The dean of arts at Trinity College Dublin has described some of the allegations made in the Marino affair as "absolutely despicable" and "beneath contempt".
Dr Howard Smith, the nominee of the TCD provost on the Marino board, also described suggestions of financial irregularities at the college as "positively mischievous".
In a letter to the Oireachtas Committee on Education, he expresses confidence that ongoing inquiries into events at the Marino Institute of Education (MIE) will clear the authorities there of any wrongdoing.
The affair emerged last month when the former head of Coláiste Mhuire, the teacher training facility at MIE, resigned her post after settling her High Court action against the college. Caoimhe Máirtín said she had been the victim of bullying and intimidation.
Since then allegations have surfaced that some of the €4.5 million in State funds received by the college may have been misused, a charge vehemently denied by MIE.
Two inquiries are under way. PriceWaterhouseCoopers is investigating the use of State funds, on behalf of the Minister for Education. Accountant Greg Sparks is also conducting an inquiry at the request of MIE.
Dr Smith claims that his colleague on the board, Dermod Dwyer, a senior figure in Treasury Holdings, had "suffered irreversible damage to his reputation from the vicious and unwarranted campaign that has been mounted against him".
In his letter, written to Marino chairwoman Sr Bernadette McMahon and circulated to the Dáil committee, Dr Smith describes himself as an "objective witness" to events at Marino.
While describing Ms Máirtín's resignation as "deeply regrettable", Dr Smith says "her failure to report to the governing body and to accept its authority in financial and other matters was quite literally making the institute ungovernable. If this situation had continued ... I would have had no option but to resign."
Dr Smith commends Mr Dwyer, saying he had been scrupulous in ensuring that propriety had been observed in every aspect of his work for the institute. "The way he has been treated is beneath contempt."
He denies any campaign to "drive" Ms Máirtín out of her post.
The inquiries' findings are expected in a few weeks.
