A man from Co Fermanagh has lost a racial discrimination case against the Halifax bank in London during which he claimed he was turned down for a job because of his background.
The chairman of the industrial tribunal, Mr Carl Teper, said although he understood why Mr Mark Ferguson (30) might have felt he had been treated "oddly" he did not believe Mr Ferguson had been subjected to racist questions about his background.
However, in its judgment the tribunal criticised the way the Halifax had treated Mr Ferguson after the interview, effectively leading him to believe he would be considered for other jobs when he had failed an aptitude test and had received an unflattering personality report.
Mr Ferguson, who has since suffered depression was clearly upset with the result. "I have no idea what I will do now," he said. "I will have to look to the future."
The dispute arose following a job interview last year at the Kensington High Street branch in London. Mr Ferguson told the tribunal that during the interview two managers asked him irrelevant and upsetting questions. He said they asked him about the North and wanted to know what it was like to grow up during the Troubles.
However, during earlier evidence at the tribunal, Mr Nicholas Garland, one of the managers who conducted the interview in May 1996, said Mr Ferguson had lacked dynamism and was not turned down because of his background.
Referring to interview notes, Mr Garland said Mr Ferguson had appeared negative and was not "dynamic". However, asked why he could not remember the interview, Mr Garland replied: "It was a 20-minute interview which happened 21 months ago. It was someone we did not take on, and I have no reason to remember it."