Former childcare lecturer Dr Niall McElwee was not given favourable treatment by Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) while he was employed there, the Equality Tribunal has found.
Dr McElwee resigned in July after admitting that he was convicted of two counts of attempted indecent assault involving four teenage US girls at a hotel in Amsterdam in June 2004.
He remained in his post as a senior lecturer at AIT for three years, and only resigned after he was threatened that his convictions would be made public.
It subsequently emerged that both the Garda and officials from the Midland Health Board knew about the incident, but never informed AIT.
AIT was taken to the Equality Tribunal by Dr Sheila McGree, a lecturer in social care at the department of humanities in Athlone. The case was taken before Dr McElwee's conviction became public knowledge.
Dr McGree said Dr McElwee received favourable treatment when they both competed for a senior lecturer position which Dr McElwee was eventually appointed to in 2003.
She alleged that, although he was given the title of director of the centre for child and youth care learning, the centre does not exist. She said Dr McElwee had been given two days a week for research purposes alone, instead of one day for other lecturers, and he was given unfair advantages in the supervision of student research. His attempts to develop the research of other lecturers, most of whom were women, was "sexist".
AIT denied all Dr McGree's claims, and said the differences in employment between the two of them was as a result of Dr McElwee's more senior position as a senior lecturer.
Equality officer Geraldine Coyle said she was satisfied the privileges granted to Dr McElwee were "as a result of his higher status" .
There was "no evidence" to suggest gender discrimination.
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