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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.

Full story at The Scotsman.