Party discrimination case fails

By Johnny Caldwell
BBC News

Mrs Hawkins had been backed by the Equality Commission

A discrimination case brought against the Alliance Party has been dismissed by a Belfast employment tribunal.

It comes after the Equality Commission withdrew its support for party employee Margaret Hawkins.

This is linked to questions around a business degree Mrs Hawkins claimed to have from the University of Ulster.

The commission said in a statement on Friday afternoon that there had been an "irretrievable breakdown" in its relationship with the applicant.

A lawyer acting on behalf of the Alliance Party told the tribunal he believed there were sufficient grounds to prosecute Mrs Hawkins for perjury.

Mrs Hawkins said she did not have the money to pursue the case on her own. The tribunal chairman subsequently dismissed the case.

The 60-year-old had claimed she was a victim of age, gender and disability discrimination.

She claimed, among a number of allegations, that since 2003 longstanding party member and MLA Stephen Farry had "constantly bullied her".

Mrs Hawkins also told the tribunal that party leader David Ford said that former Alliance MLA Eileen Bell would be "out of her depth" as Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Despite this outcome, I feel I did the right thing in bringing this case against the Alliance Party Margaret Hawkins

This was one of a number of submissions she made in relation to a sexist atmosphere existing within the party.

She also alleged that she was not informed about a staffing review which led to her salary being cut by £7,000.

It was in relation to evidence about her and other party workers' qualifications and their suitability for various roles that Mrs Hawkins claimed that she had a business degree.

The Alliance Party's counsel said the party would seek "extensive and considerable costs".

He said a number of members' reputations had been damaged due to Mrs Hawkins' "groundless allegations".

He added that while it was not his function to comment on whether the claimant had committed perjury he thought there was "sufficient material to contemplate a referral to the appropriate prosecution authorities".

After the Equality Commission withdrew its support, Mrs Hawkins told the tribunal: "I have no other means of funding this so I have no alternative but to withdraw.

'Confidence'

"Despite this outcome, I feel I did the right thing in bringing this case against the Alliance Party."

Bob Collins, chief commissioner of the Equality Commission, said: "In discharging its statutory duties by assisting people to take cases alleging discrimination, the commission regards total confidence in the applicant as a key requirement.

"Until all legal issues have been finally resolved the Equality Commission is unable to comment further."

Stephen Farry said: "Margaret Hawkins engaged in a clear and calculated attempt to undermine my integrity as a public figure by pursuing this baseless case.

"It is now established that her case was full of holes and untruths, and I take great vindication from this.

"There are major questions that the Equality Commission will have to answer as to why they supported this charade. It would appear that the Equality Commission were more interested in the identity of the respondents than the merits of this case, which were entirely lacking."