A commission investigating complaints seeking the removal of a Presbyterian minister in Dublin interviewed only those supporting him before finding there were no grounds for the complaints.
An appeal hearing also found that oral evidence presented to it about interviewing the main complainant in the case was "at variance with minutes".
A new investigation into complaints against the Rev Gary Millar has been ordered following the appeal. Notices concerning the new investigation were posted in Presbyterian churches in Howth and Malahide yesterday.
They related that a member of the Howth-Malahide congregation, Richard Williams, made a written complaint to the Dublin & Munster Presbytery seeking Dr Millar's removal, on April 20th, 2004.
A commission of the presbytery was set up to investigate. It requested that Mr Williams supply a list of congregation members who supported the complaints. He provided 20 such names on June 28th, 2004. That had risen to 53 by September 2004, representing 42 families.
Neither Mr Williams nor any of the signatories were interviewed by the investigating commission. However, on September 6th, 2004, the commission met eight of the 11 elders at the Howth-Malahide congregation. These all strongly supported Mr Millar. The three elders not present were said to be strongly opposed to Mr Millar.
They were not present at the meeting "either because they were unable to attend or had not received notice sufficient for their attendance or because of a breakdown in communication", according to the appeal findings.
After that meeting in September, the investigating commission concluded there were no grounds for the complaints against Dr Millar and reported this finding to the Dublin & Munster Presbytery. It was accepted, with congregation member Ann Coulter dissenting.
She, along with Mr Williams, appealed the decision to the church's judicial commission, which sat on January 21st and February 14th to hear the appeal.
It found the Dublin & Munster and its investigating commission had "erred pastorally and judicially" by failing to meet or interview Mr Williams or any of the 53 signatories to the complaints.
It directed such interviews take place in a new investigation.
