Mary Walsh, Kathleen Jackson and Helen Acton of the Ballinrobe Community school in Co Mayo claimed that the school board had given the assistant principal job to a male teacher even though they had more experience and were better qualified.

The three women each have over 20 years' teaching experience while the man had 12 years' experience. The women claimed that there was "a culture of discrimination and victimisation against female teachers" in the school. They said that on one occasion the school principal, in the middle of an argument with Kathleen Jackson, said that he would prefer "to deal with 10 men to one woman any day".

The principal, who acted as secretary to the panel interviewing for the post of assistant principal, admitted he made the remark but said it was jocular and designed to ease the tension. The school board argued that the successful applicant showed more interest in the pupils while the three women appeared most interested in teachers' concerns.

In 2004, an equality officer ruled that Mary Walsh get the assistant principal job and that the three women be paid 10,000 each in compensation.

But last week the Labour Court reversed that decision.

The secondary school teachers' union, ASTI, which represented the three women, is considering an appeal to the High Court.