The Home Office has paid a black woman £2,000 in settlement of a claim she made where she alleged racial discrimination arising from the actions of an immigration officer at Belfast City Airport.

The case was settled without admission of liability and with the support of the Equality Commission.

The woman, who has lived and worked in England for 14 years and holds a British passport, was leaving her mother-in-law off at George Best Belfast City Airport when she was stopped and asked for a passport or ID.

She had her two children with her and they all had to stand by in a public place while an immigration officer radioed to check her immigration status.

She says that an immigration officer said to her that she ‘looked foreign and not from here’.

The Home Office has apologised to the woman for any offence caused.