Northern Ireland

Council silent on referring sex-assault councillor Brian Duffin to watchdog

Antrim and Newtownabbey councillor Brian Duffin, and inset, how The Irish News reported on his sentencing
Antrim and Newtownabbey councillor Brian Duffin, and inset, how The Irish News reported on his sentencing Antrim and Newtownabbey councillor Brian Duffin, and inset, how The Irish News reported on his sentencing

A COUNCIL has remained silent on whether it will refer a 73-year-old councillor to a standards watchdog for investigation after being convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Brian Duffin "stuck his tongue" into the mouth of the 17-year-old and placed one hand on her breast and the other on her inner thigh, a court heard.

His victim told police "I just froze, I panicked" and that afterwards neither spoke – but Duffin took £40 from his wallet, set it on the table and walked out.

On Tuesday a judge imposed a four-month jail sentence, but freed Duffin on bail pending an application to appeal his conviction.

The independent councillor for Antrim and Newtownabbey has said he will not resign – and it appears Duffin may not face automatic disqualification.

Local government legislation says a councillor is automatically disqualified if their "actual imprisonment" term is three months or more – but 50 per cent remission means Duffin will serve two months of his sentence on licence.

He could face serious sanctions from the Local Government Commissioner for Standards, but the watchdog says it has "no power to act" without a complaint.

A commissioner's office spokesman yesterday said they had received "enquiries", but no formal complaint so far.

Asked whether it would refer Duffin to the commissioner, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council did not comment.

In a statement yesterday, a spokeswoman quoted legislation on the disqualification of councillors.

She added: "The proper body with the jurisdiction to deal with any complaints about this matter is the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards."

The sexual assault happened in the victim's home in June 2016.

Duffin, of Cargin Road in Toomebridge, left the SDLP earlier this year when the case emerged.

He denied the charge and was found guilty at Antrim Magistrates' Court.

The judge acknowledged his previous good character and references, but said the "custody threshold has been crossed".

The SDLP has previously called for Duffin to resign. If he resigned, the SDLP would decide who takes his seat because he was elected as an SDLP representative.