THE SDLP has called for a 73-year-old former party councillor to resign his seat after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
The court heard Brian Duffin "stuck his tongue" into the mouth of the 17-year-old, had one hand on her breast and the other on her inner thigh during the assault in 2016.
Duffin had resigned from the SDLP in February pending the outcome of the case, but he continues to sit on Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council as an independent councillor.
In a statement yesterday his former party called for him to resign his council seat.
"Mr Duffin is not an SDLP councillor. The party unreservedly condemn Mr Duffin's actions and he should resign his council seat immediately," an SDLP spokeswoman said.
A spokesman for the Local Government Commissioner for Standards said the watchdog is unable to investigate the matter without receiving a complaint.
Asked whether the council would refer Duffin to the commissioner, an Antrim and Newtownabbey council spokeswoman said: "Councillor Duffin remains as an independent councillor for Antrim and Newtownabbey. The council has no further comment to make."
If Duffin resigned, the SDLP would decide who takes his seat because he was elected as an SDLP representative.
The sexual assault happened in the victim's home in June 2016. The case was heard at Antrim Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
The teenager had described how Duffin put his arm around her and asked her for a kiss after she became upset talking about her ill grandfather.
She said that as she went to give him a kiss on the cheek, he grabbed her head and "stuck his tongue down my throat".
She estimated the attack lasted about 10 seconds, and afterwards neither of them spoke, but Duffin put £40 from his wallet on the table and walked out.
Under cross-examination, the teenager denied suggestions she had "misinterpreted what happened".
Giving evidence to the court, Duffin, of Cargin Road in Toomebridge, denied any wrongdoing.
The father-of-11 and grandfather-of-19 denied sexually assaulting the teenager, saying: "As a councillor I have a code of conduct that I have to operate under."
Convicting Duffin, District Judge Nigel Broderick said he had "given the matter careful consideration" but the victim was a "very credible witness" whose account had been "straightforward and matter of fact".
The judge said he would pass sentence once a probation report was ready, and freed Duffin on bail until August 7.
