English woman wins discrimination case in North

An English woman was today awarded more than £11,500 sterling compensation for racial discrimination while working in an underwear…

An English woman was today awarded more than £11,500 sterling compensation for racial discrimination while working in an underwear shop in Northern Ireland.

An employment tribunal found the Ann Summers store in Belfastcity centre unlawfully discriminated against Ms Jean Buchanan ongrounds of race.

The tribunal found the store treated Ms Buchanan less favourably thanlocal staff - including ignoring her suggestions, isolating her fromconversations, pretending not to understand her accentand disparagingly referring to how things were done "across thewater".

The company had also extended her probationary period and ignored herapplication for the post of supervisor.

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The tribunal found that but for her nationality she would have beenappointed as supervisor because the respondents had displayed a high degree of confidence in her abilities.

Ms Buchanan had worked in the store from its opening in 1998 until her resignation later that year.

The case against store manager Ms Catriona McMahon and Lydcare,trading as Ann Summers, was undertaken by Ms Buchanan with theassistance of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

The tribunal awarded £4,000 for injury to feelings, with £640interest. At a second hearing it awarded her a further £6,562 forfinancial loss suffered and £450 costs.

PA