THE SDLP deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, has welcomed the inquiry into the deployment of staff at Baroness Denton's private office in the Department of Agriculture in the North.
As nationalist politicians kept up their calls for Baroness Denton's resignation over the handling of a sectarian harassment in 1995 and the alleged breaching of fair employment practices in her office, the Northern secretary and some unionists supported her.
Mr Mallon welcomed the inquiry but added that a statement by Sir Patrick Mayhew on Monday night appeared to be trying to prejudge the outcome of the inquiry being conducted by the former ombudsman, Dr Maurice Hayes.
Sir Patrick said that at no time did Baroness Denton know "anything about any alleged sectarian element" in the transfer of a Catholic woman from her office. The woman subsequently won £10,000 in a sectarian harassment case.
The Minister was being subjected to "unjust criticism" over the issue and she had his "entire confidence and support", he said.
Mr Mallon criticised Sir Patrick for this saying he still believed Baroness Denton should resign. Mr Mairtin O Muilleoir of Sinn Fein also called for her resignation and said that the inquiry was a diversion.
The DUP MP for Mid Ulster, the Rev William McCrea, yesterday defended Baroness Denton's record. He told the Westminster grand committee on Northern Ireland that she had done an excellent job in attracting investment.
Mr Gregory Campbell of the DUP in Derry said if the British government was guilty of anything "it was more of incompetence rather than of discrimination". "We have seen how not to run a department when allegations of this nature are made," he told BBC Radio Ulster.
The Department of Agriculture is accused of breaching fair employment practices in the appointment of Baroness Denton's travelling private secretary.
While the Catholic victim was transferred from the baroness's office, the Protestant official responsible for the harassment was allowed to remain, contrary to Northern Ireland Office guidelines which state the perpetrator of the harassment should be moved.
Dr Hayes was appointed on Monday to head the inquiry which will be made public. A parallel inquiry into how documents related to the case came into the hands of the Irish News will not be disclosed.
Baroness Denton said in a statement that those involved in the harassment case had suffered further stress arising from the reopening of the controversy.
"They are all competent people, and I hope they will be spared any further stress by the issues being constantly rerun in the media," she said.
