A former chief executive of the Northern Ireland Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB) used abusive language about Catholics, a Fair Employment Tribunal was told today.
Dr Elaine Hamilton, a former deputy chief inspector, who has accused the board of religious discrimination, said she heard the chief executive, Mr William Smith use the term, "fenian", during Sunday lunch at his home.
Dr Hamilton is claiming that a selection panel, which included Mr Smith, failed to shortlist her for the post of fisheries' manager in November 1998 because of her relationship with a married Catholic employee, Mr Leo McKenna.
But council representing the FCB, Mr Kevin Denvir accused Dr Hamilton of attempting to smear Mr Smith's reputation. He said: "You go on to make the allegation that Mr Smith used the term fenian. I want to put it that this isn't true."
Dr Hamilton replied: "That is what I heard him say."
Asked if she was suggesting that other members of the selection board who failed to shortlist her were also biased, Dr Hamilton replied: "I think he (Mr Smith) influenced the board and the board was a party to that as well."
Dr Hamilton, who had worked as deputy chief inspector at the board from 1990 to 1995, accepted an out of court settlement after she was dismissed.
She applied to rejoin the board in 1998 but was not given an interview by the four-strong panel.
On the second day of cross-examination, Mr Denvir accused her of splitting the workforce during her time as deputy chief after she pushed for an office worker to be disciplined .
Office workers and field staff resigned en masse from the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) in protest at Mrs Hamilton's presence in the union after Mrs Louise McAteer received a written warning.
The tribunal was told that Mrs McAteer was disciplined after rumours of an affair between Dr Hamilton and Mr McKenna, a married man, began to surface.
PA