A Derry City and Strabane District Council member has been suspended for one month after an investigation by the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.

Shauna Cusack, an independent councillor since 2013, was found to have breached the code of conduct by sharing confidential information on social media.

The post related to an alleged animal cruelty incident and included details about individuals with no connection to the case.

The ombudsman ruled that the disclosure risked placing those individuals in harm and contributed to hostile online discussion.

Cusack had argued that the information was already public, but the adjudication commissioner rejected that defence.

The suspension start date remains to be confirmed.

Nipso began its investigation following a complaint from a member of the public.