A DUP councilor has been suspended for three months following a comment he made on social media about Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Michelle O’Neill.
DUP Alderman John Carson – who previously apologised for claiming the Covid-19 pandemic was God’s punishment for the legalisation of same-sex marriage and abortion in Northern Ireland – made the comment in April last year under a Facebook photo backing Edwin Poots for DUP party leader.
The Mid and East Antrim Borough councilor suggested Ms O’Neill would be “put back in her kennel”.
Acting Commissioner Ian Gordon decided that Alderman Carson had breached the Councillor’s Code of Conduct at an Adjudication Hearing held on 10 October and said the post had a ‘misogynistic’ tone.
Having looked at the report, the Acting Commissioner found no evidence, despite Alderman Carson’s description, that the comment related to political issues.
Instead, he considered that the wording was "an unreasonable personal attack" on Ms O’Neill, with a "misogynistic tone".
Mr Gordon said he was satisfied Mr Carson's conduct was likely to "diminish the trust and confidence the public placed in his position as an elected representative" and concluded that a member of the public, knowing all the relevant facts, would reasonably consider that the Alderman’s conduct was such that it brought his position into disrepute.
The Acting Commissioner said an apology made on Facebook by Alderman Carson was ‘half-hearted’ and not a personal apology to Ms O’Neill.
The apology read: "In hindsight I realise I have caused offence by a robust comment made in anger. I retract the comment and apologise accordingly."
He added that the Alderman had "not shown meaningful hindsight into his actions."
