officer could be heard behind closed doors.

Members of the press and public face being excluded from the Board of Inquiry hearing if an application by the accused man's lawyer is successful.

Richard Hector, QC, wants the tribunal to take place "in camera'', away from public scrutiny.

But Clare Hatcher, representing the alleged victim, said the evidence should be open to the public because the inquiry was ordered after a complaint to the Human Rights Commission.

Board of Inquiry Chairman Tim Marshall yesterday banned the media from revealing the identity of either Police constable, even though both names have already been published.

The accused man is still a Policeman and his alleged victim has now left the service.

Mr. Marshall told the hearing at St. Theresa's Cathedral Hall, that he would not rush any decision on whether or not to hold the proceedings in private.

The Chairman had already ruled that the case surrounded "sexual conduct'', not sexual harassment, because it was one isolated incident.

But he said only civil standards of proof -- a balance of probabilities -- and not criminal standards -- were needed to present the case.

Mr. Hector applied for the hearing to be made private, saying: "I raise the question of secrecy. The issue I'm raising now is fundamental to the underpinning of the Human Rights Act.'' Ms Hatcher referred to similar legal actions in Britain and Canada which suggested the hearing should be in public.

And she said her client had no objection to her own name being published.

POLICES CTS