On his 62nd birthday, Joey* had just finished giving a private lesson to students at home and was reading text message greetings from other teachers – when police showed up at his house and arrested him.

That day marked a dark turning point in his life and that of his family. It marked the beginning of a seven-and-a-half-year case to defend himself against claims of sexual abuse. It was also the onset of the depression both he and his wife still suffer from – even though the courts declared him innocent a year ago.

“It was June 20, 2006, at 6.30pm. I had no idea what was going on. Police asked me to give them my mobile phone and laptop. When I arrived at the headquarters a police inspector was reading a diary – he told me I was mentioned in it. He insinuated that the child who wrote it claimed sexual abuse,” recalls Joey, who is now 70.

Earlier that day, the mother of a 10-year-old student – who he taught since she was seven years old – had filed a police report claiming he abused her daughter.

“The police should investigate more thoroughly before taking someone to court on such allegations and destroying their life. They just relied on the claims of the mother,” he says.

I still don’t feel comfortable around children. I’m scared they might allege something

Joey had just retired after a 40-year career as a teacher in a government primary school, when he was arrested.

He spent the night of his birthday in the police lock-up and was then charged with defiling the 10-year-old girl. He had taught the girl when she was in Year 3 and she attended private lessons at his home two years later, following his retirement.

He was only granted bail after 77 days. Being in prison broke him and he started suffering from depression. But, at least, prison staff and inmates treated him with respect, he says.

He suffered another blow when his teaching warrant was suspended, even though he was not yet proven guilty.

Joey could not sleep before each court sitting and, after each hearing, he would spend days reviewing the evidence and taking notes to pass on to his lawyer – earning him the nickname Perry Mason.

It was frustrating for him to live the slow case that gradually revealed what he already knew – his innocence. If only police checked some basic things out before, he says.

For example, it emerged that the “incriminating” reference to him in the girl’s diary were words along the lines that she felt happier in Year 3, when he taught her, he says, as he clutches copies of the diary’s entries that were exhibited in court.

Besides, the girl claimed he touched her under her skirt in class throughout the scholastic year – when there were other children around. Students wore tracksuits for most of the year and a look at the classroom layout would have been enough to prove the impossibility of the task.

The girl also alleged he abused another student, who denied the claims.

The diary was also suspicious since the girl’s handwriting changed drastically over the span of a week, he points out.

When he was finally granted bail, he dreaded the daily “walk of shame” to the local police station to sign the bail book.

“My son would come with me and I’d insist on passing through narrow back streets. I was scared people would judge me. Even though I knew I was innocent and the case was being heard behind closed doors, people knew about the case.

“I also developed a phobia of children. I would stay away from them and could not even watch a children’s programme on TV. I still don’t feel comfortable around children. I’m scared they might allege something,” he says.

As part of his bail conditions he was banned from going anywhere close to the school he taught in, which meant he could not attend the funeral of three colleagues and two students.

Joey also had to face the legal expenses of some €10,000. But the worst consequence was suffered by his wife who plunged into a deep depression and who, soon after his arrest, suffered a stroke that impacted her memory.

The ordeal came to an end in September 2013 when the magistrate cleared him.

The police should investigate more thoroughly before taking someone to court on such allegations and destroying their life

“In my heart of hearts I had a feeling I’d be acquitted since the evidence was pointing in that direction,” he says.

When the news about his acquittal hit the headlines, students and colleagues phoned him and sent him letters expressing their relief and support. Some asked whether he would sue for damages.

“That would mean spending another five years in court. By the time I’d get compensation I’d be 75. It’s just not worth it,” he says.

The magistrate concluded that the girl made up the story because she did not want to attend private lessons any more. But Joey has his doubts.

“Why this happened is a mystery. Maybe the mother acted too hastily in calling police when her daughter claimed she was molested.

“I’m not angry at the girl. In my heart of hearts I know it’s not her fault,” he says.

* Not his real name.

Teachers’ concerns

The teachers’ union has long been insisting on clear guidelines in schools and within the police on the way to handle allegations of abuse.

The issue was rekindled in August when a 46-year-old assistant principal and treasurer of the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM) was accused of sexually molesting a 10-year-old student.

Police said he was playfully lifting the boy out of the sea and held him tightly against his body, including the genital region, during a swimming trip where other teachers and students were present.

The MUT stressed that, while anyone found guilty of such offences should face the consequences and be listed on the child offenders’ register, one could not ignore the fact that allegations of abuse could be used maliciously by students or their parents to harm particular individuals.

Teachers no longer knew where to draw the line and whether they should lift an injured child for fear of ending up in court. The union called for clear guidelines and consistency.

The subject of child abuse allegations will be discussed on Times Talk, aired on TVM on Tuesday at 6.45pm.