Hearings
The table below contains information about forthcoming Hearings and Hearings which have already taken place. This includes the name of the councillor and the name of their council. Details about the date, time and venue of the Hearing are also included, if these arrangements have been finalised.
The table also contains information about which of the detailed rules of the Code of Conduct the councillor is alleged to have breached under the Heading ‘Alleged Breach’.
All Adjudication Hearings will be held in public except where the Commissioner determines that it is in the public interest for all or part of a Hearing to be held in private. Due to COVID-19, forthcoming Hearings are being held remotely. Understand the Commissioner’s protocol for remote Hearings and the procedures to be followed at a public adjudication Hearing.
Case Reference
Alleged Breach
Councillor
Council
Hearing Date/Time
Venue
Decision on Breach
Decision on Sanction
Written Decision
Case Reference
C00186
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.13a and 4.6
CouncillorEmmet McDonough-Brown
CouncilBelfast City Council
CouncilVenueDecision on BreachCLOSED BY ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Decision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00339
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.2, 4.11, 4.13a and 4.6
CouncillorFormer Councillor Ruth Wilson
CouncilMid and East Antrim Borough Council
CouncilTBC
VenueTBC
Decision on BreachDecision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00356
Alleged BreachCode paragraph 4.2
CouncillorFormer Councillor Ian Stevenson
CouncilCauseway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Council28.06.21 09:30am
VenueVirtual Hearing
Decision on BreachBreach of paragraph 4.2
Decision on SanctionDisqualified for 4 years
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00095
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.2, 4.13 (a) and (b)
CouncillorCouncillor Colin Kennedy
CouncilArds and North Down Borough Council
Council11.06.21 11:30am
VenueVirtual Hearing
Decision on BreachBreach of paragraphs 4.2, 4.13 (a) and (b)
Decision on SanctionSuspended for 6 weeks to take effect from 18 June 2021
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00064/67/77
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.2, 4.6, 4.16, 5.2 (a), (f), (i) (ee), 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3
CouncillorFormer Councillor Declan Boyle
CouncilBelfast City Council
CouncilTBC
VenueTBC
Decision on BreachDecision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00322
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.2, 4.16, 4.18 and 5.3
CouncillorFormer Councillor Jolene Bunting
CouncilBelfast City Council
CouncilTBC
VenueTBC
Decision on BreachDecision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00324
Alleged BreachCode paragraph 4.2
CouncillorFormer Councillor Brian Duffin
CouncilAntrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Council09/06/21 10:00am
VenueVirtual Hearing
Decision on BreachBreach of paragraph 4.2
Decision on SanctionDisqualified for 5 years
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00308/313
Alleged BreachCode paragraph 4.2
CouncillorDerek Hussey
CouncilDerry City and Strabane District Council
Council09/07/19 10.30am
VenueNIPSO Offices Progressive House
Decision on BreachBreach of paragraph 4.2
Decision on SanctionDisqualified for fifteen months
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00090
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.6, 4.16 (a), 6.1 and 6.2
CouncillorMeryvn Rea
CouncilAntrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Council28/6/19 10:30am
VenueNIPSO Offices, Progressive House, 33 Wellington Place, Belfast BT1 6HN
Decision on BreachBreach of paragraphs: 6.1, 6.2 and 4.16(a)
Decision on SanctionCensure
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00356
Alleged BreachCode paragraph 4.2
CouncillorIan Stevenson
CouncilCauseway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Council14/3/19 10:00am
VenueThe Resolution Centre, Floor 5, The Boat Building, 49 Queens Square, Belfast, BT1 3FG
Decision on BreachDecision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00129
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.2, 4.13 (a), 8.1 (a), (c) and (f)
CouncillorRuth Patterson
CouncilBelfast City Council
Council4/3/19 10:30am
VenueNIPSO Offices, Progressive House, 33 Wellington Place, Belfast BT1 6HN
Decision on BreachBreach of Paragraph 4.2, 4.13 (a) and 8.1
Decision on SanctionSuspended for 6 months
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00294/296
Alleged BreachCode Paragraph 4.2
CouncillorThomas Hogg
CouncilAntrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council
Council28/01/19 10:00am
VenueNIPSO Offices, Progressive House, 33 Wellington Place, Belfast BT1 6HN
Decision on BreachBreach of Paragraph 4.2
Decision on SanctionSuspended for 5 months
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00084
Alleged BreachCode Paragraphs 6.3. 6.4, 4.5, 4.6, 5.2 (i) (bb) and 5.3
CouncillorGeorge Duddy
CouncilCauseway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Council13/12/18 10:00am
VenueNIPSO Offices, Progressive House, 33 Wellington Place, Belfast BT1 6HN
Decision on BreachBreach of Paragraphs: 6.3, 6.4, 4.5 and 4.6
Decision on SanctionSuspended for three months
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00098
Alleged BreachCode paragraph 5.2 (i) (ee) (subject to paras 5.4 and 5.6) and Paragragh 6.4
CouncillorJim Rodgers
CouncilBelfast City Council
Council5/12/18 14.00
VenueNIPSO Offices, Progressive House, 33 Wellington Place, Belfast BT1 6HN
Decision on BreachBreach of Paragraphs: 5.2, 5.3, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.9
Decision on SanctionPartial suspension for three months
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00164, C00172, C00177, C00178, C00181, C00200, C00206, C00171, C00257, C00279, C00285, C00288, C00251, C00299
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.1 (b), 4.2, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13 (a), 4.16 (a) and (c), 4.18 (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e)
CouncillorJolene Bunting
CouncilBelfast City Council
CouncilInterim Adjudication Hearing 4/9/18 10:30am
VenueThe Resolution Centre, Floor 5, The Boat Building, 49 Queens Square, Belfast, BT1 3FG
Decision on BreachDecision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00158
Alleged BreachCode paragraph 4.1 (a) and 4.2
CouncillorPatrick Brown
CouncilNewry, Mourne and Down District Council
Council17/04/18 4:00pm
VenueNIPSO Offices, Progressive House, 33 Wellington Place, Belfast BT1 6HN
Decision on BreachNo breach of Paragraph 4.1 (a), breach of Paragraph 4.2
Decision on SanctionSuspended for six months
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00079
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 7.4 and 9.7
CouncillorAndrew Girvin
CouncilLisburn & Castlereagh City Council
CouncilVenueDecision on BreachCLOSED BY ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Decision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00055
Alleged BreachCode paragraph 4.1(c), 4.13(a), (the Respect Principle) & 4.14
CouncillorSean McGlinchey
CouncilCauseway Coast & Glens Borough Council
Council05/06/2017 10:00am
VenueCloonavin, 66 Portstewart Road, Coleraine
Decision on BreachBreach of Paragraphs 4.1(c), 4.13(a) & 4.14
Decision on SanctionCensure
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00060
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.13(a) (the Respect Principle), and 4.13(b)
CouncillorAlderman Jim Dillon
CouncilLisburn & Castlereagh
CouncilVenueDecision on BreachCLOSED BY ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Decision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00019
Alleged BreachCode paragraph 4.13(b)
CouncillorTimothy Gaston
CouncilMid & East Antrim Borough Council
CouncilVenueThe Braid, 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena
Decision on BreachCLOSED BY ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Decision on SanctionWritten DecisionCase Reference
C00030
Alleged BreachCode paragraphs 4.6, 4.16(a), 4.18(b) and (e)
CouncillorPadraig McShane
CouncilCauseway Coast & Glens Borough Council
Council15/11/2016 10.00am
VenueCloonavin, 66 Portstewart Road, Coleraine
Decision on BreachBreach of paragraphs 4.6, 4.16(a), 4.18(b) and (e)
Decision on SanctionSuspended for three months
Written DecisionCase Reference
C00035
Alleged BreachThe Public Duty Principle. Also Code paragraphs 4.1(a) and 4.2
CouncillorPatrick Clarke
CouncilNewry, Mourne and Down District Council
Council29/09/2016 and 20/10/2016
VenueDownshire Civic Centre, Downpatrick
Decision on BreachBreach of Public Duty Principle and paragraphs 4.1(a) and 4.2
Decision on SanctionDisqualified for three years
Written DecisionDecisions
The Commissioner’s decision about whether or not there has been a breach of the Code of Conduct and, if so, what sanction is to be applied will be noted in the table above shortly after the conclusion of the Hearing.
The Commissioner’s full written decision will be available to download from the table within six weeks of the conclusion of the Hearing, after the parties to the Hearing have been notified of the outcome in writing.
The Commissioner may redact information, such as the name of the complainant, from the published written decision, if she considers it necessary to do so.