breach of contract and wrongful dismissal, her lawyer Mr. Jeffrey Elkinson disclosed yesterday.

Mr. Elkinson said the Irish-born principal is claiming thousands of dollars worth of damages, but declined to say exactly who or what organisation is named on the writ.

Lawyer for the school's board of governors Mr. Alan Dunch said he understood Mrs. Fitzgerald was suing the Montessori Academy Education Trust.

Mrs. Fitzgerald announced she was launching the lawsuit last Friday after deciding to drop a Supreme Court injunction she obtained earlier last week preventing the school's board of governors, who are refusing to renew her contract, from hiring someone to replace her.

The school is now free to hire someone to replace Mrs. Fitzgerald, whose contract -- according to the board of governors -- expires on August 31 this year.

Mr. Elkinson said it was Mrs. Fitzgerald's position that her contract runs through to at least August, 1993.

Because of the legal action, parents furious at the board's "insensitivity'' to their concerns are not likely to get an explanation for some time.

The group, Concerned Parents of Montessori Academy, yesterday demanded a "full disclosure'' of why the board was refusing to renew her contract.

Two parents in the group told The Royal Gazette that most parents wanted Mrs.

Fitzgerald to stay on, or were confused as to why she was being let go.

Mr. Dunch said he had advised board members not to make any comment on the lawsuit and why they were refusing to renew Mrs. Fitzgerald's contract until litigation is over.

"The ball is very much in Mrs. Fitzgerald's court,'' he said. "When she discontinues the litigation it will clear the way for the board to make such comment.''