The Belfast Telegraph yesterday failed in a court attempt to block an investigation into alleged sexual discrimination against women employees.
In the High Court Mr Justice Coghlin dismissed the paper's application for a judicial review of the Equality Commission's decision to proceed with a formal investigation relating to appointments, promotions and pay rates in editorial and management departments. However, the judge ordered the commission to pay the legal costs of the action.
In his 19-page reserved judgment the judge observed: "I am satisfied that the practice and procedure adopted by the commission did not comply with the requisite standards of fairness and transparency expected from a public authority."
He added: "It does not seem to me that the applicant has been prejudiced or that granting judicial review would serve any useful purpose."
A commission spokesman later confirmed that it would proceed with the formal investigation into employment practices in the Belfast Telegraph under the terms of the Sex Discrimination (NI) Order, 1976.