The council controversially decided to write to all the post primary schools in the city in September asking them what plans they have to develop teaching material in relation to 'creation, intelligent design and other theories of origin' following a suggestion by DUP councillor Paul Givan.

But a number of head teachers have now written back, including Dr. Quinn who stressed his school was firmly faith based and added:

"My understanding is that no arm of Lisburn City Council has responsibility for any aspect of education within the City.

"It is my understanding that matters to do with educational planning lie with individual schools, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and the Department of Education.

"While Lisburn City Council's Corporate Services Committee may be a powerful, august body, it has no responsibility or authority to request that schools plan to teach a non-scientific concept as part of a scientific discipline."

Dr Quinn, stressing that he was not attacking any denomination in Northern Ireland, continued: "St Patrick's is not and will not be teaching in our science classes the religious dogma of certain fundamentalist Christian Sects from America who are promoting their own agenda.

"Lisburn wants to be known as a centre of educational excellence and not a medieval and inward looking town," he concluded.
Lisnagarvey High School also responded to the Council's letter, stating they already have a Christian ethos at the school.

The Rev Jack Richardson, the Chairman of the Board of Governors and Principal Jim Sheerin said: "Lisnagarvey High School has an excellent Christian ethos which recognises all beliefs and backgrounds. We feel that the preparation of Religious Studies should be left to our highly professional staff and the guidelines that we follow from the Department of Education."

See also 'Row Brews Over DUP Call to Teach Creationism'
and 'DUP Call for Schools to Teach Creationism Passed by Council'