Protestant favoured in job application

IN JULY, Ballymena council was found guilty of discriminating against a Catholic in the appointment of a manager of its new abattoir. The Catholic complainant had been manager of the old abattoir for 17 years, during which time his work was acknowledged to have given no cause for concern. The successful Protestant applicant had four and a half years' experience as a part-time deputy abattoir superintendent.

The appointment was made by a special meeting of all 22 Ballymena councillors. A fair employment tribunal was told that during refreshments after the interviews all 12 members of the Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party had sat at a table on their own. The Protestant man was chosen by a vote of 12 to 10.

Also in July, Limavady council was found guilty of discriminating against a Catholic in the appointment of a chief services technical officer.

A tribunal heard that Unionist councillors had held a private meeting before the interviews to discuss the applicants. The appointment was made by eight votes to seven, eight Unionists voting in favour and seven nationalists against.