Abusive remarks posted on Facebook about teachers at a school in Dublin have led to four pupils being expelled.

The students, who were all in their fifth-year at Oatlands College, are alleged to have made "vile sexual allegations" about a male and female teacher, as well as disparaging remarks about the work of another female teacher, the Irish Times reports.

Principal Keith Ryan was alerted to the comments after a member of the school's staff saw them posted on a Facebook page created by one student and administered by three others.

The four pupils were suspended for 20 days when the incident came to light and a meeting of the school board of management led to the decision this week to expel the teenagers.

News of the expulsion comes after principal Leonie Hultgren of Harlaxton school in Toowoomba, Australia, warned all students aged under 13 they faced being excluded if they failed to shut down their Facebook accounts as instructed.

In a bid to tackle online bullying and harassment in schools, Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn will this morning (May 17th) host an anti-bullying forum that can be viewed live here.

Written by Donal Walsh

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