By David Clegg

THE ELDEST daughter of suspended Dundee teacher Mike Barile said last night the spate of attacks on her parents’ home had left her “ashamed” to be a Dundonian.

The family have been subjected to several alleged incidents of vandalism since Mr Barile was found guilty of assaulting two pupils in his class at Lawside Academy last month.

Catherine Barile broke her silence to condemn those responsible for “abuse” towards her father and mother Moira.

“As the eldest daughter of Mike Barile I am utterly disgusted and completely sickened by the relentless abuse that my parents and family are having to endure by these thugs,” she said.

“I think these teenagers should be named and shamed.”

She added, “If they are big enough to carry out attacks like these they should be big enough to take the consequences of their actions.”

Miss Barile added that she hoped those responsible would be fully prosecuted.

“My sister and I both live out of Dundee now and it’s no wonder we have chosen to live our professional lives outwith the city when things like this happen.

“I am proud to be a Dundonian but this past month I have been ashamed to say I am from a city that homes thugs like these teenagers.”

A spokesperson for Tayside Police said yesterday they were “certainly aware” of ongoing problems at the Barile residence and were given the area “due attention.”

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in relation to an incident of alleged vandalism at Mr Barile’s home in Downfield on Sunday night. The teenager has also been reported to the children’s panel.

Mr Barile’s case has provoked much comment in recent weeks after first being reported in The Courier.

At Mr Barile’s trial, the procurator fiscal said the pupils’ behaviour “could charitably be described as disgraceful” and left them open to “severe criticism.”

Sheriff Charles Macnair said the case would probably not have been brought to court but for the fact that Barile was a teacher.

Since then The Courier has been inundated with calls and Emails on indiscipline in schools.

Another retired teacher, with four decades of teaching experience, yesterday said discipline is a problem.

He said, “It was the continuous low-level discipline perpetrated by a handful of pupils in most classes which hastened my desire to retire.

“I don’t know Mr Barile or whether he can teach his subject well.

“Perhaps he simply did not conform closely enough to the teacher’s code which in my experience requires the teacher to try and remain motionless in the face of abuse, teacher-baiting, or anti-social behaviour.”

Mr Barile is appealing against his conviction, but will also be reported to the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

His employers, Dundee City Council, yesterday declined to comment on when any disciplinary hearing will be held.