Councillor considers court action over discrimination claims

Back in November, Alliance Party representative Tom Campbell made a complaint to Newtownabbey Council and the Equality Commission claiming that non-unionist councillors were being discriminated against on political and religious grounds.

His allegations, which have since been echoed by councillors Billy Webb (Alliance) and Noreen McClelland (SDLP), relate to events at last year's council AGM, during which DUP and UUP councillors took the role of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and every committee Chair and Vice-Chair position, despite members from non-unionist parties being nominated for almost every post.

Councillor Campbell, a practising solicitor, believes that the council's actions were contrary to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act, which places a statutory obligation on public authorities to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different religious belief and political opinion.

Last month, following an internal investigation into his complaint by senior council officers, the Antrim Line representative called on the Equality Commission to instigate a formal probe into policies and practices at Mossley Mill. However, the Commission this week confirmed that it would not be launching a formal investigation, stating that the council's good relations policy had been subjected to an Equality Impact Assessment in 2005.

Speaking to the Times this week, councillor Campbell said he was "disappointed" with the stance taken by the Equality Commission. But he stressed that their decision would not be the end of the matter.

Read the full story in this week's Times...