‘I did absolutely nothing wrong’

‘I did absolutely nothing wrong’

1 May 2024

FORMER South Down Alliance MLA Patrick Brown, who quit frontline politics last week, has confirmed that a complaint about him was made to the Assembly by his former school, Shimna Integrated College.

His dramatic decision to resign with immediate effect came out of the blue last Tuesday evening with the former MLA insisting it was due to “personal reasons.”

Explaining his decision to stand down, Mr Brown said Shimna College’s complaint to the Assembly’s Standards Commissioner, was a counter-complaint in direct response to a complaint he made to the school on behalf of numerous constituents.

Mr Brown said they had raised what he described as “incredibly serious concerns” with him about the governance and ethos of the school. 

He said he considered the school’s complaint to be “vexatious” and an attempt to silence someone speaking out about serious issues.

“I maintain that I did absolutely nothing wrong in pursuing it,” Mr Brown continued.

“However, despite the speculation, this had no bearing on my reasons for resigning, with the timing of my resignation more to do with my new job and finding the right time to inform staff and colleagues.”

Mr Brown added: “I would rather not have been forced into a position to discuss what should be a private process. However, media speculation has forced my hand and I feel it’s important to set the record straight.”

Shimna College principal Mr Steve Pagan, has confirmed that the school and Board of Governors did lodge a complaint with the Assembly’s Standards Commissioner regarding Mr Brown’s comments which were passed to the Standards and Privileges Committee. 

“The College awaits the publication of the Committee’s report and will comment further in due course,” the principal added.

It is understood that a report by Standards Commissioner Melissa McCullough is being considered by the assembly’s Standards and Privileges Committee.

The committee, which is made up of MLAs, considers investigations by the commissioner and recommends to the wider Assembly whether any sanction should be imposed.

It is understood Mr Brown had been due to attend the committee last Wednesday.

Alliance has not formally expanded on the reasons for Mr Brown’s sudden departure as an MLA, with a party spokesman thanking him for his service and wishing him well in his future endeavours.

Mr Brown was elected to Stormont in 2022 and was previously a councillor on Newry, Mourne and Down Council from 2014.

A spokeswoman for the Standards and Privileges Committee said the process for handling complaints against MLAs was confidential “until the consideration and, where applicable, the investigation and adjudication of complaints has concluded”.

She said the assembly had a statutory duty to publish the investigation reports from the commissioner.

The spokeswoman added: “This duty is fulfilled by the committee on standards and privileges when it publishes its reports on the outcome of its adjudication of complaints, which append the applicable investigation reports by the commissioner.”

Mr Brown said it had been an honour to represent local people and help them on important issues and that he was proud of his track record and remained committed to the party’s values.

He added: “This May, I will have been an elected representative for 10 years and feel the time is right to step aside for personal reasons and I am proud of the work I have done since being elected.

Earlier this year, Mr Brown was censured by the local government commissioner for standards over comments about an interview process for a council chief executive.

It came after he posted on social media how he believed councillors had voted on the senior appointment to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Mr Brown issued a written apology following an investigation.