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Broadcaster Donna Traynor takes BBC to court in ‘row over age discrimination’

Former ‘Newsline’ presenter  quit reportedly after being moved to other duties

Donna Traynor's shock resignation followed the departure of other popular and established figures, such as Jackie Fullerton and Sean Coyle, who were moved to 'other duties' in recent years Expand

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Donna Traynor's shock resignation followed the departure of other popular and established figures, such as Jackie Fullerton and Sean Coyle, who were moved to 'other duties' in recent years

Donna Traynor's shock resignation followed the departure of other popular and established figures, such as Jackie Fullerton and Sean Coyle, who were moved to 'other duties' in recent years

Donna Traynor's shock resignation followed the departure of other popular and established figures, such as Jackie Fullerton and Sean Coyle, who were moved to 'other duties' in recent years

Paul Higgins

Former BBC Newsline presenter Donna Traynor will begin legal proceedings against her ex-employers in an industrial tribunal court this week.

The case of Donna Traynor vs the BBC and interim BBC Northern Ireland director Adam Smyth is listed for this Thursday at 10am in Belfast, reportedly for alleged age discrimination.

It follows the shock resignation of the respected journalist in November.

The 56-year-old began her broadcasting career at RTÉ and joined the BBC in 1989, presenting radio news bulletins before moving into television.

She has been nominated twice for the Royal Television Society award for presenter of the year.

Announcing her departure on Twitter, she said: “It is with deep sadness that, after almost 33 years, I am leaving the job that I love and resigning from BBC Northern Ireland with immediate effect.

“Because this is the subject of an ongoing tribunal and other legal proceedings, I am not able to respond to any questions or comments about my reason for leaving the organisation.”

Although no reason was given for the presenter’s sudden exit, The Belfast Telegraph reported that it came after she was told her duties would be changing.

It is thought the Lisburn-born journalist would no longer be the first-choice presenter for the flagship Newsline programme and would also have been required to work on Radio Ulster shows.

Ms Traynor made a surprise return to TV screens over the Christmas holidays, appearing in the comedy show Give My Head Peace.

The broadcaster appeared in The Vanishing episode, playing an on-screen role particularly familiar to her — fronting a fictional live news interview.

Dealing with a plot centred on the disappearance of the Edward Carson statue in the Stormont estate, she was seen on screen interviewing various characters from the Hole in the Wall Gang, including actor Michael McDowell’s PSNI character Constable Billy and the fictional Sinn Féin MLA Dympna, played by Alexandra Ford.

Her shock resignation followed the departure of other popular and established figures, such as Jackie Fullerton and Sean Coyle, who were moved to “other duties” in recent years.

Just over a decade ago, Miriam O’Reilly, who was 53 at the time, won her case for age discrimination against the BBC after she was dropped from the Countryfile rural affairs show.

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She took the broadcaster to an employment tribunal, which upheld her claims of ageism and victimisation.

Ms O’Reilly said she was hounded out of the BBC after being unfairly blamed for newspaper stories criticising the corporation for dropping middle-aged women presenters.

 

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