DUP councillor suspended for linking LGBTQ community to Hamas support

Colin Kennedy, a DUP councillor on Ards and North Down Borough Council, was suspended for three months by the Northern Ireland Local Government Standards Commissioner over remarks made in 2023 that associated the LGBTQ community with support for Hamas.

By Rachel Graham1 min read

The Northern Ireland Local Government Standards Commissioner found Colin Kennedy's remarks during a 2023 council debate on the Israel-Gaza conflict breached the councillors' code of conduct. His comments were judged to have gone beyond acceptable political speech and caused personal harm to individuals with protected characteristics.

Kennedy made the remarks during a debate on a DUP motion condemning Hamas attacks on Israel. He stated that those who support the LGBTQIA agenda in the West were also those defending Hamas, a claim that drew criticism from several councillors.

The standards commissioner noted the remarks brought the councillor's position into disrepute and were not a criticism of his right to political expression. A police investigation concluded the comments did not constitute hate speech, but the standards body found a breach of conduct based on the impact on affected individuals.