A former policewoman has been awarded £55,000 compensation after claiming she was victimised by senior officers.

Jacinta Mackie, a former PSNI inspector, settled cases brought before the Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunal alleging discrimination contrary to the Sex Discrimination Order, the Fair Employment and Treatment Order and the Disability Discrimination Act.

Ms Mackie, who retired from the PSNI in February after 28 years of service, took the cases with the assistance of the Equality Commission.

In settling the cases, the PSNI paid Ms Mackie £55,000 and expressed its sincere regret that she genuinely felt the PSNI had discriminated against her.

It acknowledged that she experienced a significant injury to her feelings arising from her work situation and the regrettable delay in progressing her complaints. It also accepted that she brought the proceedings in good faith and suffered considerable distress in pursuing her case and that her health was impaired as a result.

In the proceedings Ms Mackie brought before the Tribunal she complained of sex discrimination, harassment and religious/political discrimination, and subsequently of victimisation and disability discrimination.

The matters she complained of involved her treatment by senior officers and staff, including allegations of inappropriate comments of a sexual nature.