Ronan Preston was a Year 9 tutor at Ursuline High School in early 2024 when he made the social media posts, London Now reports.
Mr Preston was sacked by the school after the headteacher received an email raising concerns that the teacher was an open supporter of the prescribed terrorist group.
But last month the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) decided he should not be banned from the profession for his “ill-informed emotional response” to the events in the Middle East.
A TRA misconduct report states that among the posts Mr Preston made on X were:
- “I’m delighted to infirm [SIC] you monsters #Hamas committed no crime. Their actions were entirely legitimate resistance to a criminal state masquerading as Jewish, colonising their country!”
- “Yes we will and are ALL praying for the soldiers of destiny #HAMAS. May God grand [SIC] them victory in their homeland over the grotesque, barbaric, idol worshipping invaders @IDF”
- “You mean #Hamas and #Hezbollah freedom fighters and defenders of humanity”
- “Glory to #Hamas and freedom for humanity [praying hands emojis] victory over the imperialist racists! The destruction of the racist state of #Israel is coming soon”
When questioned by his headteacher in April 2024, Mr Preston admitted he made the posts but he had since deleted them as they were a mistake.
He later told the TRA he was “mortified” and “ashamed” by his conduct and recognised the posts as “abhorrent”, “ill-informed” and “highly offensive.”
Mr Preston said he had become “rather consumed” with the events in Israel and Palestine and had “struggled to look beyond the scenes being portrayed”.
After losing his job he returned to Ireland where he had undertaken reflective learning and had been working as a substitute teacher.
The TRA were presented with references describing Mr Preston as “conscientious”, “diligent” and a “consummate professional”.
A misconduct report stated: “The panel noted Mr Preston’s considered and reflective evidence and considered that Mr Preston had not been radicalised but that the posts amounted to an ill-informed emotional response to events relating to Israel and Palestine at the end of 2023 and early 2024.”
TRA decision maker David Oatley concluded that there is a public interest in retaining Mr Preston in the profession.
Eoin Kelly, headteacher at Ursuline High School, said: “As soon as we became aware of the allegations, Mr Preston was suspended pending an internal investigation and the relevant authorities were informed.
“Following a disciplinary hearing, Mr Preston was dismissed from his role in July 2024.
“We are very clear about the high standards were expect from our staff, and as this case shows, we will always take decisive action to maintain the trust that families place in our staff.”
