November 6, 2009 - 11:08AM
A Sydney father who defamed a school principal in an email attacking her competency has been ordered to pay her $82,543 in damages.

NSW Supreme Court Justice Henric Nicholas today handed down his verdict in favour of Jennie Ryan, the 61-year-old principal of Beecroft Public School, in Sydney`s north-west.

She had sued Rajaratnam Premachandran for defamation over an email he sent to fellow parents in April 2008.

The email, which he also copied to the principal, was entitled `Call for Mrs Ryan to quit` and alleged she was not fit to remain as principal.

Mrs Ryan`s lawyer, Sue Chrysanthou, had submitted Mr Premachandran then ran a year-long malicious `campaign` against the well-respected and `decorated` principal.

`He just spewed out his rage on the page,` she said.

`He was very angry and upset how his child was going at the school.`

Justice Nicholas will hear submissions on legal costs on another day.

AAP