A Catholic who failed to secure a top post at Queen's University in Belfast,insisted today he was discriminated against, even though two men on theinterviewing panel were of the same religion.
Mr Patrick McWilliams, who is claiming religious and sex discrimination againstthe university, told a Fair Employment Tribunal he had no idea why two Catholicmen would discriminate against him.
Mr McWilliams (39) from Lurgan, Co Armagh took the case after he lost out onthe post of publications manager in August 2000 to a Protestant woman he claimedwas less qualified and experienced.
But Mr Conor Hamill, the barrister representing Queen's, pointed out on thesecond day of the tribunal that communications director Mr Tom Collins and panelconvenor Professor Brian Carragher were both Catholics.
He added that Mr Collins had appointed Mr McWilliams to the post of electronicpublications officer, two months before the new job came up.
"Mr Collins didn't seem to have any problem with having you working for him.Why would he discriminate against you when he is male and a Catholic?" heasked.
Mr McWilliams told the tribunal: "I don't know why. I don't know whether itis likely or not. I'm saying it happened."
Asked if he believed all four members of the selection panel had conspired todiscriminate against him, Mr McWilliams replied that it had been a groupdecision to appoint the woman ahead of him.
During a lengthy cross-examination, Mr Hamill questioned Mr McWilliams'sassertion made on the opening day of the case that he was the best candidate forthe position.
The applicant had argued that as someone with a first-class degree andexperience in producing a range of academic publications, he should have beenappointed.
But the lawyer pointed out that after the selection process, which included a10-minute presentation and interview, Mr McWilliams emerged as only fifth choicefor the position.
He added that the successful candidate, as a trained journalist and someonewho had experience in producing in-house magazines, had shown herself to beeminently qualified for a position which included the launch of a new universitynewspaper.
Mr McWilliams argued that the job specification had been biased in favour ofsomeone with journalistic experience.
"It is clear that Mr Collins wanted a journalist to 'Mac' up a campusnewspaper, therefore making it very difficult for me to be appointed," hesaid.
This claim was disputed by Mr Hamill: "The employee specification was writtenbefore anyone applied for the post. Mr Collins couldn't possibly know who wasgoing to apply."
The case continues tomorrow.
PA