Hundreds of police officers are losing out on promotion because of a legal challenge over new sickness regulations, the High Court in Belfast was told yesterday.
Members of the Police Service applying for promotion are now subject to an examination of their sickness record over the past two years. If an applicant is off more than 14 days in any one year they have to provide a satisfactory explanation, or they will not be considered for promotion.
Insp Pauline Shields, stationed at Dungannon, applied for promotion to Chief Inspector but was not considered after an appeal tribunal rejected her explanations for being off work beyond the minimum period.
Yesterday she applied for a judicial review of the Force Order which came into operation last February. Her lawyer, Mr John Larkin, argued that the tribunal had failed to take into account Insp Shields' full medical information and said the retrospective aspect of the Force Order was contrary to her human rights. Mr Justice Kerr said he was mindful of the other promotions being delayed pending the outcome of the case and said he hoped to deliver judgment next week.