Teacher in discrimination claim told she'd be 'better off selling traybakes' at protestant school, WRC hears

A teacher at a County Donegal school has brought a discrimination complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission in Letterkenny, alleging she was passed over for a permanent contract on grounds related to her religion. The complainant claims colleagues repeatedly addressed her by her Protestant husband's surname despite her use of her maiden name, made remarks suggesting she would be better suited to working at a neighbouring Church of Ireland school, and questioned her about her children's First Holy Communion while knowing they attended a Protestant school. She further alleges that the school's board chairman, a local priest, shouted at her for seeking union advice on employment matters and subsequently banned her from discussing prospects with staff. The teacher states she should have been appointed without interview to a vacant post in line with Department of Education policy, but instead was required to compete in open competition, which she did not win. The school denies the claims.