Luke Poots: Ex-DUP councillor says standards probe an 'attack on family'

Ex-councillor Luke Poots and his father, DUP MLA Edwin Poots

A former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) councillor facing a standards watchdog probe has claimed the proceedings are a "politically motivated attack" on his family.

Luke Poots is being investigated by the local government commissioner over alleged conflicts of interest in the planning process.

He is the son of DUP MLA Edwin Poots.

It followed complaints Luke Poots sat on a council planning committee when his father made representations.

A public hearing to consider whether he breached the councillors' code of conduct was cut short on Wednesday after his legal team said they had been "instructed to withdraw".

Mr Poots did not attend, but in a statement read by his solicitor, he denied breaching the code.

He said: "At all stages I acted in the best interests of all constituents. At no time did I breach the code of conduct for councillors.

"These proceedings are a politically motivated attack on myself and my family. I have been denied a fair and proper hearing and my Article 6 rights have been breached."

He added that representing the people of Lisburn and Castlereagh council had been the "greatest honour" of his life.

'An unusual day'

Assistant commissioner Ian Gordon adjourned the proceedings and a private session has been scheduled for Thursday to consider how best to proceed.

"It has been an unusual day," he said.

Luke Poots served as a councillor from 2013 until 2019 and had been employed as a case worker in his father's constituency office.

He has previously insisted he had "done everything by the book", while Edwin Poots had said there was no conflict of interest "in any way, shape or form".

The adjudication hearing had been expected to last several days.

Most of the opening day was conducted in private as legal arguments were discussed.

The hearing was told how the standards watchdog had received a number of complaints in 2018 about Mr Poots continuing to sit on the council planning committee when his father made representations on applications.

They included a complaint from former Green Party leader Steven Agnew, a number of residents and one made anonymously to the council.

Peter Coll KC, representing the deputy commissioner, said they had conducted an "extensive investigation" and the case focused on three areas.

He said these were Mr Poots' participation in the planning committee; an alleged offer by Mr Poots to a neighbour for a piece of land; and a planning application for a property owned by the former councillor.

Mr Gordon said the adjudication hearing aimed to establish the facts and determine whether there was a breach of the code of conduct. If a breach is found, a decision will be made on whether there should be any sanction.

Earlier this year, it emerged a housing application approval which forms part of the probe has been reversed following a legal challenge by residents.

The case cost Lisburn and Castlereagh council more than £76,000.