Alliance MLA Patrick Brown resigns with immediate effect

A party spokesperson said the decision was due to "personal reasons" and commended his contribution to public life.

“We thank him for his service, which saw him help Alliance make an historic breakthrough in South Down at the Assembly, and wish him well in his future endeavours,” they said.

Earlier this year Mr Brown, who was previously convicted for drink driving, was censured by the local government commissioner for standards after admitting that he breached the code of conduct for elected representatives.

The ex-councillor previously issued a written apology following the watchdog’s probe into comments he made on social media about an interview process for a council chief executive.

On Tuesday evening Mr Brown thanked the people of South Down for their support which “helped me and the local Alliance team substantially grow the party in the constituency”.

“It has been an honour to represent local people and help them on important issues,” he added.

"I am proud of my track record as a constituency MLA and remain committed to Alliance values, and look forward to seeing the party continue to grow across Northern Ireland.

“This May, I will have been an elected representative for 10 years and feel the time is right to step aside for personal reasons.

"I am proud of the work I have done since being elected, including supporting those impacted by flooding, campaigning on environmental and animal welfare issues, and my work on the Windsor Framework and Infrastructure Committees.

"Alliance continues to have my support, as will whoever is co-opted by the party to fill the position of South Down MLA.”

In February, Mr Brown apologised for undermining the role of a selection panel and suggesting they made a choice of chief executive based on political lines.

The former elected representative outlined how he believed councillors on the panel had voted on the senior appointment of Marie Ward to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in 2019 when she replaced Liam Hannaway.

It prompted the outgoing CEO to make a complaint to the standards commissioner about the former Rowallane councillor, who was elected to the Assembly in 2022.

Mr Hannaway said the allegations brought the council's recruitment process into disrepute and had the potential to damage relationships between Ms Ward and parties on the council.

The outcome of the investigation found that Mr Brown breached a number of rules, including sections of the code which state representatives: “must not conduct yourself in a way which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your position as a councillor, or your council, into disrepute”, “must comply with any request of the Commissioner in connection with an investigation conducted in accordance with the Commissioner’s statutory powers"; and "must work responsibly and with respect, with others and with employees of councils”.

The report concluded that suspension would have been considered had Mr Brown still been a councillor.

The then MLA also recognised that asking Mr Hannaway to "withdraw the complaint was not appropriate".

The breaches of the code were described as "serious", but the watchdog accepted the politician’s proposal to address the dispute and apologise.

Mr Brown was previously convicted of drink driving before topping the poll to retain his seat on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in May 2019.

He was banned from getting behind the wheel after being caught riding his motorbike under the influence two years earlier.

It later emerged that his former party colleague Patricia O'Lynn was a passenger on the motorcycle when Mr Brown was stopped by police and breathalysed just days after the March 2017 Stormont election.

News Catch Up: Tuesday 23rd April 2024