A Catholic man has been paid more than £32,000 (€46,000) in compensation after he failed to land a top job on a local authority in Northern Ireland.
Mr James Sanderson (46) missed out on the chief executive's post after Armagh City councillors voted along party lines.
The Co Fermanagh man refused to accept the decision, however, and lodged a fair employment complaint.
After the settlement he said: "When I or anyone else applies for a senior professional post such as this we are entitled to feel confident our application is being given serious and fair-minded consideration by a panel of people who come to the exercise with an open mind.
"When voting is seen to be along party lines that confidence is shattered."
Mr Sanderson, who worked for Armagh Council for 16 years, has now left to work in another area of local government.
He was director of community services when the top job became available in 2001. At the time the council was split 12:10 in favour of unionists. After he failed to land the post he went to the Equality Commission.
Settling the case, the council agreed to pay out £32,500 and acknowledged the recruitment exercise failed to meet the commission's code of practice guidelines.
An apology was issued to Mr Sanderson for the distress and hurt he suffered.
The council also pledged to review recruitment procedures for its top jobs to ensure all candidates have an equal opportunity, and to liaise closely with the Equality Commission.
Chief Commissioner Ms Joan Harbison said the outcome demonstrated the need for councils to avoid any suspicion of political partisanship when making appointments.
"Councillors, like all other employers, must follow the law and avoid political or religious discrimination when appointing staff," she said.
PA