Tribunal hears rally appearance 'caused throwback that was not positive'

Sara Morrison says she was forced out of her job at the Belfast Film Festival (BFF) after she joined a rally for Let Women Speak in 2023

The co- chair of the Belfast Film Festival (BFF), Marie-Thérèse McGivern, has told a tribunal that a former member of staff appearing at a rally "caused throwback that was not positive for the organisation".

Sara Morrison is taking a discrimination case against her former employer over her views on sex and gender. claiming she was forced out of her job as inclusion and audience development coordinator at BFF after she joined a rally for Let Women Speak in 2023.

The BFF launched an investigation into her attendance, and she left work citing stress before finally resigning.

It is Ms Morrison's view that a person cannot change their biological sex.

She made comments at the rally about keeping men out of women's spaces and criticised a number of local women's organisations.

Her participation led to complaints by the LGBTQ community to the BFF, which later launched an investigation.

Ms Morrison claims in her case, which has received funding from the author JK Rowling, that she was unlawfully discriminated against by the organisation over her beliefs on sex and gender.

The BFF rejects this, as well as her claim of constructive dismissal.

'Damage limitation'

Appearing at the tribunal on Tuesday, Ms McGivern said: "No-one was talking about discipline [after Ms Morrison joined the rally in 2023], the main topic was damage limitation to the festival."

She told the hearing that small organisations are dependent on funders and stakeholders.

"The incident caused throwback that was not positive for the organisation," she said.

She told the hearing "it was an investigation that was neutral and one that protects both the person and the organisation".

On Tuesday, BFF director Michele Devlin also appeared before the tribunal.

During cross examination, a barrister for Ms Morrison, Naomi Cunningham, asked Ms Devlin about tasks that Ms Morrison was asked to do following her participation in the rally.

The tribunal heard that Ms Devlin asked Ms Morrison to compile a list of LGBT contacts.

Ms Devlin felt the initial list was short, and asked Ms Morrison to see if there were any other organisations that she could add to the list, as it was in relation to information about a family fun day.

When Ms Devlin was questioned at the tribunal as to why the second list contained several organisations that had nothing to do with LGBT, she replied that some organisations have LGBT family groups.

Ms Devlin was also questioned why Alliance for Choice was included, as it was one of the organisations mentioned in Ms Morrison's speech at the rally.

Ms Devlin said Alliance For Choice was included as "it was an opportunity for bridge building to include them".

Ms Morrison's legal team put it to Ms Devlin that some of the groups included in the list were handpicked because they were mentioned in Ms Morrison's speech on 26 April, 2023.

Ms Devlin said she did not agree with that statement.

The tribunal continues.