AN Alliance councillor has been urged by the DUP to step down from a youth awards judging panel after he was convicted of drink-driving.
Patrick Brown – a representative on Newry, Mourne and Down council – pleaded guilty after being caught riding his motorbike while under the influence of alcohol last year.
The 25-year-old last month issued an apology and said he had referred himself to the local government standards watchdog.
Mr Brown is among several councillors on the judging panel for the Youth and Future Talent Awards (Yaftas) – a council-backed initiative highlighting young people's achievements.
DUP councillor William Walker said his party feels Mr Brown's involvement is "sending out the wrong message to our young people and we believe he should be replaced".
However, Mr Brown defended his role and accused the DUP of using the youth event as a "political football".
"I have numerous committee allocations throughout the council, none of which are affected by a drink-driving conviction," he said.
Mr Brown said he intends to use his "foolish mistake to educate young people about the dangers of drink-driving".
The incident involving Mr Brown happened outside Belfast just days after last year's Stormont election in which he was a candidate for Alliance.
He appeared in July at Laganside courthouse where he was fined and given a driving ban.
Alliance said it treats drink-driving "incredibly seriously" and Mr Brown has "fully acknowledged the gravity of the mistake he has made and expressed his distress and full remorse".
