Councillor banned after comments
William O'Rourke
A SOUTHSIDE councillor has been banned from holding office by the Scottish Labour Party after alleged inappropriate comments.
William O’Rourke, a Glasgow city councillor for the Greater Pollok ward, faced a disciplinary meeting yesterday with his party.
His comments were said to have been made during a council disciplinary hearing where a care worker was alleged to have raped a nine year old in his care.
The councillor asked if there was any sign of force used against the child.
When he was told there hadn’t been, Mr O’Rourke is alleged to have asked if the child “wanted it to happen”.
He is said to have made the remarks before a female police officer who was giving evidence before the appeals committee last year.
The Scottish Labour Party found that My O’Rourke had brought the party into disrepute and banned him from holding or seeking representative office for the party for 18 months.
Council leader Gordon Matheson said: “Councillor O’Rourke’s remarks fell way short of the standard I and the public expect of Glasgow councillors.
“Councillor O’Rourke’s comments to the personnel appeals committee were disgraceful.
“We are elected by the public to protect the vulnerable people of our city.
“Councillor O’Rourke not only failed in his duty to do this, but he also made highly-offensive and inappropriate statements about a vulnerable young person.
“Councillors are by law the corporate parents of those in our care.
“It is the single most important responsibility we hold and I will ensure that every member of this council live up to that responsibility”.
Mr O’Rourke has been suspended by the Labour Party pending investigations and has been removed from several committees including the personnel appeals committee, where the incident is alleged to have happened.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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