A teachers organisation has reacted with anger to Professor Luke O’Neill’s revelatory comments that face masks harm children.
The Irish Education Alliance (IEA), which campaigned against masks in schools, says it is ‘astounded’ by the professor’s claim that he never advocated for masks at primary level.
Biochemistry professor Luke O’Neill is quoted in an article published in the Irish Independent last August, saying: ‘I would say please wear masks in primary schools because they know that masks work.’
“Many teachers in the IEA have been vilified, and the subject of vitriol, as a result of speaking out for children in their care,” IEA spokesman Barra de Róiste said.
A primary school teacher himself, Mr de Róiste declined to enforce the HSE’s mask wearing guidelines in his classroom.
“This was a very simple decision for me. At the time, there was overwhelming scientific proof that masks were not only useless at preventing the spread of a virus but, more importantly, would cause physical, emotional and physiological harm to children. I did my due diligence, unfortunately, most principals and teachers did not, therefore putting the children in their care in harm’s way. This must never happen again,” he said.
“Under the Children First Act of 2015, teachers have a duty of care to children, a duty which we take very seriously. Many of our members have faced disciplinary measures for following Child Protection procedures. Some of our members have even lost their jobs. So, to hear Luke O’Neill contradict himself by agreeing with what we in the Education Alliance, and the science, has always maintained, that masks are damaging physically and psychologically to children, is not something we welcome, but a cause for great concern,” Mr de Roiste said.
Professor O’Neill’s comments emerged when he was challenged by a woman in attendance at a conference over the weekend. The footage was shared online by the Irish Inquiry.
“I never advocated for masks on kids. Never,” Prof O’Neill told the woman, who questioned him on the use of masks in schools. “I advocated for masks for adults,” he said.
The professor said he agreed with the woman, that there were additional psychological effects arising from teachers wearing masks in school.
“I agree with you they are damaging for school kids,” he said.
“When I am on the new advisory group I will advocate against masks certainly for primary school kids, they are a negative thing. Because there’s psychological effects of those masks.
The IEA described the professor’s latest comments on masks as ‘astounding.’
“From the outset of the so called pandemic, Luke O’Neill has been the physical embodiment of contradiction. He initially claimed that masks were useless at preventing the spread of covid 19. He then made a u-turn on this which coincidently coincided with the World Health Organisation (WHO’s) u-turn on mask wearing also,” Mr de Róiste said.
Earlier this month, the Irish Education Alliance (IEA) called for a pledge ‘never to inflict damaging measures on children again.’
The group describes itself as is a teacher organisation that aims to provide oversight in relation to educational matters in Ireland. The damage inflicted by restrictions has yet to play out, according to the IEA.
“It is now time to acknowledge and recognise that principals, boards of management, teachers and parents come to the realisation they were deceived while acting in good faith or that they acted in ignorance of the facts.
“The damage masks, sanitising, freezing classrooms and social distancing have caused is yet to fully play out.
“We call on principals, boards of management, teachers, early years educators and parents to read these reports,” the group said in a statement.
The requirement for masks to be worn by primary school children aged nine and over was introduced at the beginning of December 2021. Second level students had been wearing masks since September 2020.
The measure drew criticism from many quarters, including former Labour Leader Alan Kelly, who queried the legal basis of the rules and whether principals were legally protected if they refused unmasked children at the school gate.
Mr Kelly said it was a ‘critical question’ whether government would defend any High Court action that might arise.
At the time, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the introduction of masks in primary schools was ‘a public health measure’ which had to be introduced after Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan and his deputy ‘expressed their deep concern’ over increased case numbers among five to 11 year-olds.