KINGSTON, Jamaica — An online petition has been launched calling for the dismissal of principal of the Hampton High School, Heather Murray over her decision to attend a court session in the case of a minister of religion who is accused of sexually molesting a 15-year-old girl.

Reverend Rupert Clarke, a Manchester-based pastor, was recently charged with rape and having sexual knowledge of a person under 16.  He was last Wednesday grated bail in the sum of J$800,000 when he appeared in the St Elizabeth Parish Court.

In a statement last Thursday, Murray said she was at the bail hearing to provide moral support to the pastor’s wife, who she described as her friend.

However, social media users and at least one politician have called for her removal as headmaster of the all-girls institution.

Last Friday, Councillor for the Trafalgar Division in South East St Andrew, the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Kari Douglas called for Murray to resign or be fired from the post.

Most recently, a group calling itself  Jamaicans United Against Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, launched a petition calling on Education Minister Ruel Reid, the minister with responsibility for gender affairs Olivia Grange, Children’s Advocate Diahann Gordon Harrison, and the Board of Trustees of Hampton School to immediately dismiss the principal.

The group urged the authorities “…to act swiftly – Summa virtue et humanitate – to restore the people’s trust in leaders of institutions of learning, leaders of the church and above all the Government of Jamaica’s ability to protect and provide peace of mind and safety…”

The petition, which has a target of 500 signatures, has gained the support of 287 people so far.