A councillor in Ards and North Down has received a three-month suspension from the Northern Ireland local government standards commissioner for comments made during a council debate.

DUP representative Colin Kennedy spoke in October 2023 as councillors discussed a motion condemning Hamas attacks on Israel and calling for an end to bloodshed in Israel and Gaza. He stated that people endorsing LGBTQIA+ agendas in the West also defend Hamas.

Then-deputy mayor Hannah Irwin, a former Alliance Party councillor and member of the LGBTQ community, asked Kennedy to retract his remarks, saying they offended her personally. Kennedy refused to withdraw them but offered to discuss her concerns privately afterward.

Independent councillor Ray McKimm, who is gay, left the chamber following the exchange. Other councillors criticised Kennedy's statements.

Margaret Kelly, the standards commissioner, ruled on Friday that the comments exceeded acceptable political speech and breached the councillors' code of conduct. She determined they affected individuals with protected characteristics under Northern Ireland law and brought Kennedy's position into disrepute.

Kelly noted the ruling did not question Kennedy's right to express political views. The suspension accounts for a prior code breach.

A police investigation concluded the remarks did not constitute hate speech. Kennedy reported receiving public support and accused the commissioner's office of policing councillors' emotions.

The DUP plans to review the judgment and its implications for free speech and democratic representation.