Daughter accuses Paisley of sex bias

Ian Paisley’s daughter has launched legal action accusing him of sexual discrimination, it emerged today.

The Democratic Unionist leader and other senior members of the party are named in the case being brought by Rhonda Paisley over a failed job application.

Ms Paisley claims she did not get a position within the DUP’s policy unit last year because of her gender.

A party spokesman today said: “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.”

It is understood a man with no connections to the party was appointed as a policy officer following the recruitment process.

But Ms Paisley, who has previously worked for her father at the European Parliament when he was an MEP, has lodged a case at the industrial tribunal offices in Belfast.

A former member of the city’s council, she lives at home with her father and mother, Eileen.

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

DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson and fellow MPs Nigel Dodds, Gregory Campbell, Jeffrey Donaldson, Sammy Wilson, Iris Robinson and William McCrea have also been named along with MEP Jim Allister and Ms Paisley’s brother, Ian Paisley Junior, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.