A COUNCILLOR found to have broken the local government code of conduct after being convicted of sexual assault and fraud has done a U-turn on plans to resign.
Patrick Clarke had said last week he was standing down from Newry Mourne and Down District Council on medical grounds.
It was reported that he cited depression and "alcohol issues" in his resignation, and had accepted he has to address his problems.
However, the independent councillor from Castlewellan, Co Down, now appears to have changed his mind.
A council spokeswoman said on Tuesday: "Councillor Clarke had advised the chief executive verbally that he intends to resign from council.
"At no point did Councillor Clarke tender his resignation in writing to the chief executive, as required. He has subsequently confirmed in writing to council that he is not resigning.
"The council can confirm that Councillor Patrick Clarke has not resigned and continues as a councillor for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council."
Clarke last month became the first political representative in the north to face an adjudication hearing by the Local Government Commissioner for Standards since a councillor code of conduct was introduced in May 2014.
In the past three years the councillor has had a series of criminal convictions.
He was convicted for defrauding the Dundrum Village Association of £750 in September 2014.
In September last year Clarke admitted sexually assaulting a woman at a hotel in Newcastle shortly before Christmas 2014.
In June last year he admitted swindling almost £2,000 from a community regeneration scheme but avoided being sent to jail.
And in September 2015 Clarke forced his way into a neighbour's home with a hammer, smashing a ceramic cup.
Clarke, who represents the Slieve Croob area, was previously a member of the Alliance Party.
The adjudication in Downpatrick last month found that Clarke had failed to comply with the code of conduct. His lawyer said Clarke accepted that.
A further hearing is still scheduled to go ahead tomorrow to consider sanctions against Clarke, which could see him disqualified as a councillor for up to five years.
