Sexual assault councillor Alan Donnelly suspended from Aberdeen City Council
Last updated 4th Mar 2020
An Aberdeen councillor who was found guilty of sexual assault has been suspended from the city council with immediate effect.
Alan Donnelly, 65, was convicted in December and placed on the sex offenders register.
The Standards Commission says the decision, which was taken by a panel, was in the public interest and proportionate due to the serious nature of the complaint against him.
The former depute provost will be suspended for three months.
He previously stepped down from the Conservative party but hasn’t resigned as a councillor.
Standards Commission Convener Professor Kevin Dunion said, “The Code of Conduct is clear about the standards of behaviour expected of councillors at all times.
“While the allegations against Councillor Donnelly have not yet been fully investigated by the ESC and are, as such, unsubstantiated, they are of a particularly serious nature.
“We decided that it was in the public interest to impose an interim suspension, to maintain public confidence in the ethical standards framework in Scotland.”
If the ESC investigation does not conclude within the period of the interim suspension, the Standards Commission will consider renewing it.
More to follow…
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