An equality officer has ordered Monaghan Vocational Education Committee (VEC) to pay a teacher €10,000 for discriminating against her on the basis of her age.
The case arose when Ms Mary Carroll, then aged 48, applied for one of six special duties posts in Beech Hill College, Monaghan.
She was interviewed in January 2001, but all the posts were awarded to candidates who were between eight and 24 years younger than her.
The equality officer, Mr Vivian Jackson, noted that some discrepancies existed in the marks awarded to the 12 candidates who applied for the post.
This led to some candidates receiving higher marks under the category "experience of a professional nature", although they had fewer years' service than Ms Carroll.
Mr Jackson also stated that the VEC was unable to show that the selection process was fair and equitable, with candidates selected on the basis of performance at interview.
He ordered that Ms Carroll, who was subsequently appointed to a post at the same level, receive her salary and any other benefits that accrued from the date at which the original appointments were made.
He also ordered that her appointment be backdated to that date, and that she be paid €10,000 in compensation.
Mr Derek Dunne, president of the Teachers' Union of Ireland, which represented Ms Carroll, welcomed the ruling and said it showed that age discrimination could still exist, but could also be challenged.