A DINNER LADY who gave a primary school student a biscuit was warned that she could have been seen to be “grooming” the child.

The Irish News today reports that the unnamed catering employee at a school in Co Fermanagh had been asked for a biscuit by the child at lunchtime. She agreed and asked a colleague to give the treat to the pupil.

A report by Northern Ireland Ombudsman Tom Frawley related that the following day, the cook was taken aside by the acting principal of the school and told that the incident could have been interpreted as her having tried to “groom” the pupil under the Child Protection Act. It also emerged that the student in question is a relative of the cook.

The Ombudsman’s report said that following the incident – which took place in January 2008 – a series of meetings took place before the dinner lady left the school and complained to the Western Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland, which is the woman’s employer.

Mr Frawley ruled that the Board had failed to address the matter “appropriately” and that it didn’t take any early action to investigate the complaint.

The dinner lady has since returned to the school after mediation through the Labour Relations Agency.

Mr Frawley recommended that she get a written apology from the WELB and a consolatory payment. The WELB said that it would carry out the recommendations.