AN INDEPENDENT member of Newry Mourne and Down council with fraud and sexual assault convictions was yesterday disqualified from being a councillor for three years.
Patrick Clarke is the first councillor in the north found to have broken the local government code of conduct since its introduction in 2014.
It follows his convictions in recent years for offences including sexual assault, criminal damage and defrauding two community groups.
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 was arrested after a neighbour told police he forced his way into their home with a hammer, smashing a ceramic cup.
Clarke was originally elected to represent the Slieve Croob area as an Alliance Party member, but has been an independent representative since early last year.
The council said that because he was elected as an Alliance member, the party would be asked to nominate someone to fill his seat.
Disqualifying Clarke with immediate effect, acting local government standards commissioner Ian Gordon said: "A significant element of his conduct involves bringing his office as a councillor and that of his council into disrepute.
"The consequences of his actions demonstrate a significant disregard for the code.
"They occurred over a period of time during which he does not appear to have shown any insight into those consequences."
He said the poor conduct displayed by Clarke "undermines the critical trust between the public and the people they elect".
He added: "This relationship of trust is essential if public confidence in local government and the democratic process is to be maintained."
There was confusion earlier this week after it emerged that Clarke had backtracked on plans to resign ahead of yesterday's hearing.
Last week it was reported that Clarke, from Castlewellan, Co Down, had cited depression and "alcohol issues" in his resignation.
But he later wrote to the council chief executive saying that he was not resigning.
Clarke last month admitted breaching the councillors' code of conduct, and has apologised to his family, friends and the electorate.
