NI Water religious discrimination case will not go to appeal, to the chagrin of former minister Murphy

The department found to have discriminated against a candidate for the chair of NI Water on religious grounds will not appeal the tribunal ruling. That announcement from minister for regional development Danny Kennedy has angered his predecessor Conor Murphy, who oversaw the appointment.

Sinn Fein politician Murphy said the case, brought by Protestant candidate Alan Lennon, had left him branded a sectarian and a liar. He accused the Ulster Unionist Kennedy of political point scoring “at the expense of truth”.

Kennedy dismissed that charge and said it was not in the public interest to appeal the case. He said: “Substantial public money has already been spent contesting this case and I have considered the additional significant costs of any appeal in making my decision.

“Both sides have been funded by public money and this would continue to be the case in further proceedings.

“Even if an appeal was successful this may result in further proceedings before a tribunal, incurring a greater cost to the public purse. Such costs are unquantifiable at this time.”

That statement came at the end of a six-week period for Department for Regional Development to decide whether to appeal the outcome of an industrial tribunal.

The tribunal expressed considerable doubt over whether the department’s appointment in March 2011 of a Catholic, Sean Hogan, ahead of four Protestant candidates was based on merit.

Its ruling described Murphy’s evidence as “implausible and lacking in credibility”.

Murphy has consistently rejected the tribunal’s conclusion and said he would seek further legal advice.