A DUP councillor who resigned for drink-driving has said an Alliance Party representative who admitted the same charge is leaving himself "open for criticism" if he does not step down.
Trevor Beatty said it would be "awkward" for Patrick Brown if he continues in his council role, but he added: "It's entirely his decision."
Mr Brown – a Newry, Mourne and Down councillor – pleaded guilty in court after he was caught riding his motorbike while under the influence of alcohol last year.
The 25-year-old this week issued an apology and said he had referred himself to the local government standards watchdog.
But DUP South Down MLA Jim Wells called for Mr Brown to resign, describing his position as "clearly untenable".
Mr Wells had pointed out how Mr Beatty, who was a DUP councillor in Randalstown, resigned last year after admitting a similar drink-driving charge.
Mr Beatty (63) said he felt "morally obliged" to stand down from Antrim and Newtownabbey council following his conviction last June.
On Mr Brown remaining a councillor, Mr Beatty told The Irish News: "I would say it could be awkward for him. I just feel they're probably leaving themselves open for criticism."
But he said he was "not judging the fella" and it was "entirely his decision".
"When I resigned that was totally voluntary. Nobody asked me to resign. Nobody made me resign. To me it's down to an individual," he said.
"I could have stayed on and nobody asked me to stand aside, but I just personally felt to have the confidence of the electorate I felt morally obliged to step down."
The incident involving Mr Brown happened outside Belfast on March 5 2017, just days after the 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 received "further disciplinary sanctions" within the party.
"Patrick has fully acknowledged the gravity of the mistake he has made, and expressed his distress and full remorse," a spokesman said.
