Ex-deputy provost told to pay assault compensation

● Convicted sex offender refuses to say if he will resign from city council

A former Conservative councillor who was found guilty of sexual assault while serving as a deputy provost has been ordered to pay compensation.

Alan Donnelly, a member of Aberdeen City Council, denied kissing and touching a man who was working at an event in the city.

A three-day trial heard one of the victim’s bosses say he was “trembling” when he reported the incident. Donnelly was ordered to pay £800 and will be under the supervision of the social work department for eight months.

The 65-year-old was placed on the sex offenders’ register in December and also resigned from the Conservative party and was removed from all council committees.

Sheriff Ian Wallace previously told the court he was “satisfied” there was a “sexual motive” behind the veteran politician’s actions.

Now there are fresh calls for Donnelly to resign, with the Liberal Democrats calling for him to quit as a councillor.

Aberdeen’s Liberal Democrat group leader Ian Yuill said: “Hopefully this sentence will help give Councillor Donnelly’s victim some closure.

“Councillor Donnelly should have resigned as a councillor on the day he was convicted.

“He should have resigned when the council’s urgent business committee urged him to do so on 19 December. He should resign today.

“Even Councillor Donnelly must understand he cannot possibly do the job of a councillor as a convicted sex offender.

“His failure to resign shows complete contempt for the Aberdeen’s citizens, Aberdeen City Council and, in particular, the residents of the Torry/ferryhill ward.”

Aberdeen City Council coleader, Conservative Douglas Lumsden, said: “I think he should really consider his position. He’s no longer part of the administration.”

SNP group leader Alex Nicoll said: “I think the only option that’s now open is for him to do the right thing and resign.”

Speaking outside court, Donnelly told the BBC: “I have got a lot of options to take and consider now. It’s been a very challenging 15 months for me and I’m going to take some more advice and leave all options open.”

Donnelly was previously part of the ruling Conservative, Labour and independent administration.