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A teacher whose offer of a permanent position was withdrawn was recently awarded €12,000 by the Equality Tribunal for discrimination based on her religion.

Ms. McKeever, who is a member of the Church of Ireland, was interviewed for a position in the Autism Unit of a national school in May 2007 but was unsuccessful. A month later, she was contacted by the principal who offered her a permanent teaching post, based on her previous interview. Ms. McKeever verbally accepted the post and subsequently received a letter form the Chair of the Board confirming the offer. In July 2007, the Chair of the Board of Management contacted her again, enquiring whether Ms. McKeever had a Catholic religious certificate. Ms. McKeever confirmed that she did not and that she was a member of the Church of Ireland. However, she stated that she was willing to teach the religious course. The Chair of the Board said that her religion was not an issue as she would be teaching 4th class, which is not involved in the Communion or Confirmation.

However, Ms. McKeever subsequently received a letter from the Board of Management withdrawing their offer of a permanent post, explaining that there had been procedural difficulties. They stated that only temporary or part-time teaching posts could be appointed from previous interviews, and that the permanent teaching post should have been advertised. Ms. McKeever submitted to the tribunal that she believed that it was because of her religion that she was refused the post. Ms. McKeever re-applied for the post but never attended the interview when called.

The Equality Tribunal held that the complainant had been discriminated against based on her religion after examining the minutes of the Board of Management's meeting. The Tribunal found that the candidate's religion had been discussed before the procedural issues were discussed by the Board. Thus, The Tribunal held that Ms. McKeever's religion influenced the Board's decision to withdraw the offer, as they rationalised that the Board could easily have ratified her teaching post offer retrospectively. Ms. McKeever was awarded €12,697 in compensation for the discriminatory treatment.

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