Councillor suspended over soldier court reference

A Londonderry councillor has been suspended from the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) after providing a court reference for an Irish soldier later jailed for rape.

Brian Tierney, a former mayor of Derry and Strabane, last week apologised for the reference, which he later withdrew, and the SDLP described it as a "grave error of judgement".

Kielan Mooney, 30, of Bloomfield Park, Londonderry, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years for raping a woman who was a fellow member of the Irish Defence Forces.

In a fresh statement, Tierney said he had "made the very difficult decision to step aside as an SDLP councillor" after "reflecting on the situation over the past few days".

It is unclear if he will remain on the council as an independent.

An SDLP spokesman said Tierney had resigned the SDLP whip on the council and his party membership has been suspended pending an "internal review of the wider situation".

Mooney was jailed last week after being found guilty at Dublin's Central Criminal Court of three counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.

The offences happened in a Dublin hotel in July 2021.

The victim said Mooney's actions had left her feeling suicidal.

In a statement last week, Tierney said he was "not aware of the details of the charges" when he wrote the reference – and withdrew it when he realised.

In a new statement on Monday, the councillor said: "After reflecting on the situation over the past few days I have made the very difficult decision to step aside as an SDLP councillor.

"Although the situation was misrepresented to me, I deeply regret the harm caused to the victim and everyone else affected in my giving of a character reference.

"The SDLP has played a huge role in my life from a very young age and the vision and values of the party remain core to me.

"I will be doing everything possible to make up for the damage caused and to demonstrate genuine remorse for my actions."

The SDLP said it welcomed the councillor's decision "and his genuine desire to address the issues raised".

"We are conducting a review around the provision of references," it added.

"Tackling violence against women and girls remains a key priority for the SDLP and our thoughts are with the victim at the centre of this case."

When asked for further clarity on the statement, an SDLP spokesman said that Tierney's "membership is suspended pending the party's internal review of the wider situation".

He added that the councillor has "resigned the SDLP whip on council".

Earlier, the deputy leader of the Alliance Party said Tierney should be "considering his position".

Eóin Tennyson told the Northern Ireland Assembly there were "serious questions" for both Tierney and the SDLP – and asked why the SDLP had not suspended the councillor.

"Leadership is not simply about how we respond to these issues when they appear in other parties, but how we respond when they befall our own," he added.

"Victims deserve accountability and to see this issue treated seriously.

"As we stand here today, it is difficult to fathom how Mr Tierney can remain an elected representative.

"Both he and his party ought to be considering his position."

Speaking on BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme earlier on Monday, SDLP assembly member Mark H Durkan said people were "very upset" to learn of the court reference.

He said he believed it was a "genuine mistake" and that Tierney was unaware of the "nature and seriousness of the offence".

Durkan said that Tierney would also be "apologising privately" to "those involved directly in this case".

"We'll also be engaging more with groups to reassert our commitment, the SDLP's commitment, to the eradication of violence against women and girls," he added.

"It's an awful situation and I can only apologise too on behalf of the party."