The Teaching Council has removed a teacher from its register after a disciplinary committee found her guilty of professional misconduct over an incident during which Sellotape was placed across children's mouths.

In what was the country's first public teacher fitness to practise inquiry after new legal provisions were enacted, last November a disciplinary hearing was told that pupils were crying and had red marks on their faces after the teacher placed sellotape on their mouths, or told them to do so.

The teacher at the centre of the allegations was not identified and was not present at the hearing. She disputed the allegations.

All teachers must be registered with the Teaching Council in order to be permitted to teach. The teacher in question will be eligible to re-apply for registration in a year's time.

Last year's hearing was told that in March 2012 the teacher, who had begun working as a substitute teacher in the school a few days previously, told five fifth class girls in a maths class to tape their mouths.

One student refused to do so and it was alleged the teacher taped the mouth of that child and one other herself.

There were boys and girls in the class but the inquiry heard that only the girls had their mouths taped.

The pupils told the inquiry that some children in the class had been messing and talking, and that the teacher had threatened to use Sellotape if they did not "whisht".

The school principal told the inquiry that some of the pupils were crying after the class and had red marks on their face.

The decision by the Teaching Council to remove the teacher from the register was confirmed by the High Court last August.

The teacher in question has not been identified in the ruling.