Rhonda Paisley sues father over sex discrimination

IAN PAISLEY’S daughter has launched legal action against her father accusing him of sex discrimination after she failed in a bid to win a top job in his Democratic Unionist Party.

Other senior members, including MPs and her brother Ian Jnr, have been named by Rhonda Paisley who alleged gender discrimination when she was turned down for the €30,000 (£20,000) post.

She is taking the case to an industrial tribunal in Belfast.

A party spokesperson confirmed yesterday: “We are content with the person who did get the job.

“It’s all in the hands of our lawyers and we are not going to be distracted by this from the bigger issues.”

The job in the policy and communications unit went to Dr Philip Weir, one of the party’s councillors in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Ms Paisley, a former DUP councillor and an ex-Lady Mayoress of Belfast, is single and lives with her father and mother Eileen. She is a painter whose work sells for up to £2,000 a time in some of Northern Ireland’s art galleries.

A party source said: “Everybody is amazed she is going ahead with this. It came completely out of the blue because she is very close to her parents, although it has not affected their relationship.”

The case has been taken against Alan Ewart, the party’s chief executive, but also names her father Mr Paisley, the North Antrim MP.

Ms Paisley once worked for her father as his assistant but stepped down when he ended his career at the European Parliament last year.