Profanity-laced email from Sinn Fein councillor ‘despicable’

Former Sinn Fein mayor Garath Keating sent an angry email to a constituent who had posed questions over Covid-19 lockdown recycling issues

DUP group leader Mark Baxter said the offensive email – sent by former lord mayor Garath Keating in response to a Covid-19 lockdown inquiry about recycling and parks – breached the councillors’ code of conduct “on every level”.

In the email, Mr Keating told the constituent to “stay the f*** at home”.

Further in the email, he added: “I know people want to clear out their stuff, I know there are some irresponsible c***s who think it’s acceptable to throw their rubbish about the place and that is hugely unfortunate – but the importance of the advice to STAY THE F*** AT HOME ultimately takes precedence over both as it quite literally is a matter of life and death.”

Mr Keating later sent a second email apologising for the use of “unprofessional language.

He said he had gone a “bit too far in making the point,” and added: “Hope I have not caused you any offence.”

Mr Baxter said the subsequent apology should not be the end of the matter.

“The language he used to the constituent was despicable,” he said.

“It’s certainly not very professional to speak to constituents in that way.

“There is a councillors’ code of conduct which is quite strict, and that [email] certainly breaches it on every level.”

Mr Baxter added: “He is a former lord mayor so he should know better. He was the first Sinn Fein mayor in the ABC area so he has certainly brought his entire party into disrepute.

“It is a matter for Sinn Fein but I would expect he will be disciplined by the party, absolutely. The ombudsman should be having a look at it and his own party should be speaking to him.”

A Sinn Fein spokesman said: “Councillor Garath Keating has apologised for language used and any offence caused in a response to a constituent. Sinn Fein’s position remains that people should continue to follow guidelines on social distancing.”

ABC Lord Mayor Mealla Campbell (SDLP) said: “The views expressed are those of an individual councillor and not the council. The language and tone used in the email is not representative of the way in which the council carries out its business. It is my understanding that councillor Keating has formally apologised for his conduct.”