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Catholic detective at Met 'bullied by Protestant boss'

A BELFAST-born Catholic detective is suing the Metropolitan Police in London for more than £200,000, claiming he was the victim of sectarian discrimination by a senior Protestant colleague from the north.

Detective Inspector Paul Armstrong (50), has alleged his Protestant boss Detective Chief Inspector Mark Roycroft targeted him because of his religious background.

Mr Armstrong also also alleged he was discriminated against by other senior colleagues.

He claimed that he was discriminated against between 2007 and 2013, when he took sick leave because of his clinical depression.

In his claim at the Central London Employment Tribunal, he alleges he was subjected to 'bullying and harassment' by Mr Roycroft, who retired from the Met in 2012.

Mr Armstrong claimed Mr Roycroft, his then line manager, made "untrue and misleading" comments about him during an appraisal that were "motivated by his sectarian bias towards Irish Catholics".

He alleged Mr Roycroft falsely claimed he was drinking alcohol on duty and was not keeping to his hours. He also claimed Mr Roycroft threatened to put him under surveillance, adding "which I believe he actually did".

Mr Armstrong, who still works for the Met but is on long-term leave, claimed his career had been "effectively ruined" and he had been overlooked for promotion.

Mr Armstrong's barrister told yesterday's tribunal hearing that his clinical depression, which he developed while working in Westminster, amounts to a disability.

The hearing was adjourned until later this month.