‘What about homos?’ nun asked teacher in interview

The Equality Tribunal has found that a primary school in Munster discriminated against a teacher on the grounds of age, religion, and sexual orientation and has ordered it to pay her €54,000 in compensation, the equivalent of a year’s salary.

The discrimination took place at an interview for the position of school principal, at which the teacher was asked by a nun: “What about the homos?”

The Catholic school was not identified but its patron is Dr Dermot Clifford, Archbishop of Cashel and Emily.

The tribunal’s equality officer found that the teacher, who is heterosexual and married, was asked a number of discriminatory questions.

She told the tribunal that one interviewer, known as Sr B, “zeroed in” on the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in primary schools.

She said she was asked for her personal rather than professional opinion about the work of the forum rather than how she would envisage guiding a school through a change in patronage.

She said this line of questioning made her feel “very insecure”.

Sr B told the tribunal she had been concerned about what the applicant would do with children whose parents did not want them to participate in the school’s religious instruction programme.

The tribunal ruled that this line of questioning constituted religious discrimination.

The teacher told the tribunal that she had been “floored” when Sr B then asked her: “What about the homos?”

Although Sr B and other members of the interview panel denied that the question was asked, the tribunal found that the nun had done so. It said the question was an attempt to ascertain indirectly the complainant’s sexual orientation and was unlawful.

The INTO, which represented the teacher in the case, has welcomed the decision to award her substantial compensation.

Spokeswoman Sheila Nunan said the case clearly shows that while there have been improvements in anti-discrimination policies and procedures, discrimination is still occurring.

“It is unacceptable that interviews for principal teacher positions are carried out less than professionally and in a discriminatory manner,” said Ms Nunan.

The teacher, who has a masters degree and eight years’ experience in the role of deputy principal, was recognised as being more experienced and better qualified than the successful candidate.

The decision to award both candidates the same mark for experience and qualifications led the equality officer to conclude she had also been discriminated against on grounds of her age.