An NHS worker has been awarded nearly £30,000 in compensation after a tribunal found that being compared to Star Wars villain Darth Vader in a workplace personality test constituted a 'detriment'. Lorna Rooke, a supervisor in the NHS Blood and Transplant service, was subjected to the comparison during a team-building exercise, which the tribunal ruled caused her harm and contributed to her decision to leave her job.

The incident occurred when Rooke's colleagues participated in a Star Wars-themed Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test. While Rooke was absent from the room, a colleague completed the test on her behalf, resulting in her being categorized under the Darth Vader personality type. Despite arguments that the Darth Vader category described a 'very focused individual who brings the team together', Employment Judge Kathryn Ramsden dismissed these as positive attributes, stating that 'being aligned with his personality is insulting'.

The tribunal heard that the comparison made Rooke feel 'unpopular' and contributed to her experiencing low mood and anxiety in relation to her work environment. Although the tribunal acknowledged that Rooke's decision to leave was influenced by personal circumstances, it upheld her claim for detriment, awarding her £28,989.61 in compensation.

This case highlights the potential for workplace team-building exercises to have unintended negative consequences when not conducted with sensitivity and respect for all participants. The ruling serves as a reminder to employers of the importance of fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.

Kilcoo secured their place in Down football history on Sunday, capturing an unprecedented seventh consecutive Senior Football Championship title with a 1-17 to 1-11 victory over Carryduff at Pairc Esler. The Magpies delivered their strongest performance of the championship when it mattered most, with Paul Devlin's first-half penalty goal providing crucial separation in a hard-fought contest that saw the throw-in time pushed back to 5pm following a pitch inspection.

The match, originally scheduled for 3:30pm, saw Kilcoo demonstrate the championship experience that has defined their remarkable 12-title run over 13 seasons. Devlin's 22nd-minute penalty strike down the middle proved decisive, with the player explaining his calculated approach: "It was a big moment in the game and it needed to go in, so I didn't want to put it in the corner and the keeper has a chance if diving. I just thought I wanted to hit it hard."

Carryduff, making their first final appearance since losing to Kilcoo in the 2020 decider, mounted a second-half rally but ultimately fell short of claiming what would have been their inaugural Frank O'Hare Cup. The South Belfast club had powered past Burren in the semi-final with their full contingent available, but couldn't overcome Kilcoo's championship pedigree despite showing improved form from their previous final appearance five years earlier.

Devlin expressed satisfaction with the victory amid external skepticism, noting "it's nice to see that people want Kilcoo to fall" while emphasizing the team's resilience. "This one is sweet with how the game played out and the build-up where we were doubted in this year's championship," he told BBC Sport NI. "It just shows the character of this team. Big teams play well in big games and we have that experience to put in those big performances." The win solidifies Kilcoo's status as the dominant force in Down football, achieving a landmark that had eluded them when Burren denied their seventh consecutive title bid in 2018.