Council fails in appeal over school 'job for Catholics only'

A COUNCIL has lost its appeal against an employment tribunal ruling that an atheist teacher was a victim of religious bias because he was not considered for a promoted post at a Catholic school.

The Employment Appeal Tribunal said Glasgow City Council had "no business" in promoting a religious ethos.

David McNab, 54, won his religious bias claim against Glasgow council last March and was awarded 2,000. It was the first such case since laws banning discrimination over religion came into effect in December 2003.

The council had claimed being a Catholic was a genuine occupational requirement for the job.

But yesterday the tribunal rejected its appeal. Judge Lady Smith said an education authority did not have a religious ethos and as a local authority, Glasgow City Council had "no business seeking to follow or further any particular religious ethos at all".

The tribunal also did not accept that being a Roman Catholic was a genuine occupational requirement.