Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has suspended Ulster Unionist councillor Mark Ovens for two months for failing to declare his role as a special adviser to the Health Minister.

The suspension, imposed by the Standards Commissioner, follows a complaint by the council. Ovens was elected in 2023 but did not submit his register of interests form until November 2025, more than two years later.

The commissioner found a conscious and ongoing disregard of his obligations under the code and said his actions were likely to diminish public trust in his position.

Ovens accepted the findings and apologised for the late registration, describing it as a genuine administrative oversight. He said the commissioner found nothing in his declaration to suggest he had deliberately tried to conceal anything and acknowledged he was quick to declare his employment with the Health Minister.

He said he established that 29 councillors failed to submit the form within the required 28 days during the current mandate, and six submitted theirs after he did, including five from Sinn Féin. He said he was not aware of a complaint being lodged against them.

Ovens questioned the timing of the council complaint, which was lodged last summer. He said it came against a background of him repeatedly challenging issues such as the cost of the Lakeland Forum redevelopment, missed bin collections, and the attempted introduction of mandatory online booking at recycling centres.

He said the commissioner firmly rejected multiple other allegations from the chief executive that he had spread misinformation or presented inaccurate information, and also made clear it is entirely reasonable for elected councillors to hold the council to account.

Sinn Féin councillor Dermot Browne welcomed the suspension and rejected suggestions that it was an attempt to stifle scrutiny. He said Ovens had failed to abide by the code of conduct and had been dealt with appropriately.

Ovens said he would not stop listening to residents or acting on their behalf during his suspension, adding that he does not apologise for being an unashamed advocate for the residents of Erne West.

He confirmed he intends to stand again in the May 2027 council elections, saying he recently received the unanimous backing of the UUP in Fermanagh.

The commissioner said the two-month suspension would otherwise have been three months, but mitigating factors including cooperation with the investigation were taken into account.