A primary teacher who was awarded €127,000 after being discriminated in a job interview said she felt vindicated by the outcome.
Ms Margaret McGinn
Ms Margaret McGinn was turned down for the job of principal at St Anthony's Boys National School in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, in 2001 after being asked if her gender would pose a problem for the post.
The Equality Tribunal found that Ms McGinn had been discriminated against and had been seriously victimised after making her complaint
Ms McGinn said: "I feel the integrity of my position has been vindicated by the Equality Officer's decision. I'm very pleased with that."
Ms McGinn was supported during the three-year investigation by her union, the Irish National Teachers Organisation, and her teaching colleagues.
"I got wonderful support from people. I think it was understood that it was really a matter of principle to me," she said.
Ms McGinn has not yet received the €127,000 award or an apology from St Anthony's because the school has appealed the decision to the Labour Court.
"It's their right to appeal and that's due process, so that's not a problem," she said.
She continued to teach in St Anthony's during the three year Equality Tribunal investigation. "I managed to separate my taking this case from my actual work within the school. That would be important to me."
Ms McGinn said she had also continued her work with the local choir and preparing schoolchildren for Communion and Confirmation ceremonies.
The Equality Tribunal heard that once she had made her complaint about the interview process, local clergy stopped acknowledging her work. The chairman of the interview board, Fr Eamon Clarke, also wrote a letter to the Department of Education calling her complaint "spiteful".
"My view is that one has to rise above adversity and continue doing what you feel is right," said Ms McGinn.