Shamed member urged to resign yet again

Shamed Aberdeen councillor Alan Donnelly has been urged to resign after it was confirmed that a watchdog investigation into his sexual assault conviction could roll on for another three months.

The Standards Commission has barred the former deputy lord provost from the Town House until September while a report into misconduct allegations is finalised.

An initial three-month ban, imposed in March, was due to expire today but the ethics watchdog for elected politicians has now suspended him until September 3.

Donnelly has refused to resign from the council

“The only person who can speed this up is Donnelly”

after being convicted of sexually assaulting a waiter at a city function in 2018.

Despite that, he cannot be referred to the commission until the report has been submitted.

Only then can a hearing be held and a decision taken on his future as a councillor.

It could take another six weeks for the report to be finalised and then a further six weeks before a hearing can be held.

Having denied touching his victim’s face, hair and body and kissing him on the face, the shamed Torry and Ferryhill member was found guilty at trial in December.

When called for comment yesterday, Donnelly said: “I have nothing to say until this is all over.”

Council co-leader Douglas Lumsden renewed calls for the 65-year-old to quit.

He said: “The only person who can speed this up is Donnelly himself.

“He should resign.”