St Kevin’s College ex-principal and deputy head listed as witnesses in employment trial
The elite school’s former principal and deputy head will be called to give evidence in the Federal Court after a counsellor was allegedly punished for trying to blow the whistle on staff misconduct.
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St Kevin’s College former head Stephen Russell and deputy head Janet Canny will be called to give
evidence in the employment trial of school counsellor Marie Keel.
Mr Russell and Ms Canny were listed as witnesses in the Federal Court on Wednesday in a
hearing brought by Ms Keel against adverse treatment of her by the school.
Ms Keel, who is still employed by the school but is on sick leave, has brought action under
the Fair Work Act. She claims her job was taken from her when she tried to raise allegations
of inappropriate conduct by staff three times with Ms Canny in 2019.
Ms Canny has been stood down in light of the action. Mr Russell resigned after giving an
employment reference to the school’s former athletics coach, Peter Kehoe, who was
convicted of one count of grooming a child under the age of 16 in 2015.
Lawyers for Ms Keel argued for a quick trial date, but lawyers for the school said it would be
premature.
Justice Bromberg said mediation should be set down for a date after April 3. A suitable job
for Mr Keel could be discussed in the interim, among other matters.