The UCD Students’ Union is calling on the university to investigate a right-winged Professor who attended the St. Patrick's Day anti-lockdown event in Dublin.
Professor Dolores Cahill, a faculty member at the UCD School of Medicine and chair of the Irish Freedom Party, organised and spoke at the event, which took place in Herbert Park, Dublin 4 on Wednesday.
She claimed that the lockdown is "based on lies".
At the protest, Prof Cahill claimed children would "never reach their IQ and job potential” if they wear masks.
She insisted mandatory masks were introduced because “oxygen-deprived people are easier to manipulate".
Prof Cahill also told the crowd: “Our beautiful, treasured elderly in the care homes: they are not prisoners.”
In a statement, UCDSU President Conor Anderson said the union was now calling on the college to investigate Prof Cahill for “gross misconduct".
He claimed that she is using her UCD position as an expert voice in the far right movement.
He wrote: "The UCDSU has called for an investigation to determine whether her comments at the event constitute gross misconduct.
“Dolores Cahill has been propagating medically-inaccurate conspiracy theories in service of a far-right political agenda throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Unfortunately, her words are far-reaching. Professor Cahill has amassed a huge following and exerts considerable influence over the general public who do not realise she is not an expert in virology, epidemiology, or public health.
“Cahill is using her role in UCD to position herself as an expert voice to the anti-mask, anti-lockdown far right.
“Many people have justifiably been duped into believing that Cahill is an expert in the field due to her links to the UCD School of Medicine, and they therefore believe her position warrants listening to.
“Dolores Cahill does not have the expertise to inform you on COVID-19 and is merely telling you her political ideas and none of it is based on scientific research by the UCD School of Medicine.”
He added: “I have written to the head of the UCD School of Medicine and the head of UCD Human Resources to request that Prof Cahill be investigated under Statute 28 of the Universities Act 1997.
“This statute defines gross misconduct, in part, as ‘deliberate disregard for health and safety precautions likely to endanger another person.’”
Earlier this week, The Irish Times reported that Cahill will not be teaching or coordinating any classes during the current academic term.
Dublin Live have attempted to contact Prof Cahill in relation to her attendance at the anti-lockdown protest.
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