Exeter Christian Nurse loses religious discrimination battle

Judges at the European Court of Human Rights have ruled that Exeter Christian nurse Shirley Chaplin, 57, was not the victim of religious discrimination by her employers at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

Ms Chaplin was transferred to a desk job by Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust Hospital in 2009 for failing to remove a confirmation crucifix on a small chain, which she had worn to work for 30 years.

The hospital said it had acted in an appropriate and sensitive matter.

In the same hearing, the Court have ruled that British Airways employee Nadia Eweida's rights had been violated under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

However judges also refused to uphold the cases made by Gary McFarlane, 51 - a marriage counsellor fired after saying he might object to giving sex therapy advice to gay couples - and registrar Lillian Ladele, who was disciplined after she refused to conduct same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.