SDLP undertaking ‘robust investigation’ into allegations facing former party councillor

The issue of former SDLP Derry City and Strabane District councillor Brian Tierney has been discussed in Council for the third time.

According to Cllr Catherine McDaid (SDLP) the party has undertaken a “robust investigation” into the matter and she was confident about the transparency of the process.

Cllr Tierney resigned from the SDLP following his provision of a character reference for convicted rapist Kielan Mooney; he currently sits on Council as an independent councillor.

Earlier this month, Council’s Governance and Strategic Policy committee unanimously agreed Council would write to SDLP leader, Claire Hanna, regarding an article by Belfast Telegraph journalist Alison Morris concerning Cllr Tierney; the March 3 article claimed Cllr Tierney had “provided support to a man charged with seven counts of rape”.

Speaking at Council’s March plenary on Wednesday, Cllr Paul Gallagher (Independent) sought legal opinion from Council solicitor Philip Kingston on whether the proposed letter went against Council’s standing orders.

Cllr Gallagher said: “This is regarding an article that was in a newspaper, making [anonymous] allegations against a member of this Council. 

“I feel it was a badly constructed motion. It was also asking this Council as a corporate body to take on an investigative role. It asks four actions under that investigation. It also preempts the actions and questions. There is a sense it is trying to answer its own questions it is asking of a third party.

“I don’t feel this is the proper road this Council should go down as a corporate body. Anyone and everyone can have a right to write to any political party as an individual and seek questions from that political party but I think we are setting a precedent that we are asking this Council as a corporate body to take on an investigative role regarding anonymous allegations,” said Cllr Gallagher 

Mr Kingston said no contravention of Council’s standing orders had occurred.

Replying to Cllr Gallagher, Cllr Sandra Duffy (Sinn Féin) who had originally brought forward the proposal of a letter to the SDLP said, Council had a “duty of care to all women here in this chamber but also every woman out there who is watching what goes on in this chamber”.

She added: “It is unfortunate that I brought this into Governance and Strategic Planning at the start of the month but I did so on the back of the article which stated that what happened here in this chamber in January actually retraumatised a victim and forced her to come forward, so I believe that it was right and proper that I brought that issue back into this chamber.

“What we saw in this chamber in January was the old boys’ network getting together, using toxic masculinity to again defend somebody who was accused of something, so I feel it was very right and proper that I brought this back into this chamber and asked those questions of the SDLP because the victim has clearly stated she was re-traumatised because of what happened here in this chamber in January,” said Cllr Duffy.

Cllr Gary Donnelly (Independent) said he was withdrawing his support for the sending of the letter.

Explaining his reasons he said: “The enormous societal problem of sexual abuse, domestic violence and misogyny is one that needs challenged in a serious, intelligent, effective and unified manner. 

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“It is a matter that transcends political ideology and cannot be used as a political football or be weaponised for political advantage. It is a humanitarian issue.

“With excessive focus on the mistakes of Cllr Tierney, this in turn will lead to allegations of political gamesmanship and misplaced energy and focus which, in my opinion, would be better directed at tackling this evil and providing support for victims,” said Cllr Donnelly.

Cllr Gallagher’s proposal that Council should not accept the proposal by the Governance and Strategic Policy committee to send the letter to the SDLP was defeated.