Superintendent Ryan, who previously worked alongside Gda Geary and Gda McGlinchey, said they had been a “huge loss” to the force since they were suspended five years ago on foot of the allegations before the court.

The five on trial, following a probe conducted by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI), are accused of “engaging in conduct tending and that intended to pervert the course of justice”.

A fitness-to-teach inquiry concluded that the teacher had contravened the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers