Priest pays up following harassment hearing
A priest has paid £6,500 to a female primary schoolteacher he was accused of harassing.
Fr Ben Hughes is working as a chaplain in the University of Ulster Jordanstown. He was accused under the Sex Discrimination Order of harassing Brigid Gormley, a teacher in his former parish at Belleek, Co. Fermanagh.
Fr Hughes was a former curate and chairman of the Board of Governors in Saint Davog’s Primary School, Belleek when he allegedly harassed Ms Gormley.
The mother-of-four claimed the incident happened outside the school four years ago.
She alleged Fr Hughes subsequently treated her less favourably than other teachers.
The case was settled with the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland.
Fr Hughes did not formally accept liability in the case but acknowledged the teacher had brought her claim to the office of Industrial Tribunals in good faith.
The Commission added: “He also expressed his regret for any distress and upset caused and agreed to attend an equality awareness course prior to the discharge of any further duties as chairman of the board of governors.”
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