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| Councillor's ban over gay remark | Councillor's ban over gay remark |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A councillor has been disqualified for 12 months after referring to homosexuality as a "notorious disability". | |
| Bill Pritchard, former town councillor in Barmouth, Gwynedd, wrote to an assembly government minister, referring to two men in a local development. | Bill Pritchard, former town councillor in Barmouth, Gwynedd, wrote to an assembly government minister, referring to two men in a local development. |
| He described homosexuality as "a demon which can be driven out". | He described homosexuality as "a demon which can be driven out". |
| An adjudication panel of the public service ombudsman for Wales found he breached the council's code of conduct. | An adjudication panel of the public service ombudsman for Wales found he breached the council's code of conduct. |
| After the hearing in Dolgellau, Mr Pritchard, an evangelical Methodist, said he was not sorry and stood by his views that homosexuality was a disability. | |
| The hearing heard Mr Pritchard wrote to Leighton Andrews AM, deputy minister for regeneration, to voice concerns about a development project in Barmouth. | The hearing heard Mr Pritchard wrote to Leighton Andrews AM, deputy minister for regeneration, to voice concerns about a development project in Barmouth. |
| In the letter, he referred to two men with interests in the development as being in a relationship. | In the letter, he referred to two men with interests in the development as being in a relationship. |
| I respect them as someone who is struggling with a disability as I would with someone in a wheelchair Bill Pritchard | I respect them as someone who is struggling with a disability as I would with someone in a wheelchair Bill Pritchard |
| The hearing heard how he referred to homosexuality as "a notorious disability and that the modern culture is to defend these people from any form of discrimination. Hurray for diversity". | The hearing heard how he referred to homosexuality as "a notorious disability and that the modern culture is to defend these people from any form of discrimination. Hurray for diversity". |
| Hywel James, the tribunal chairman, said: "You also go on in the letter to state 'There may indeed be a cure for this disability as recently I found a book. It seems to suggest that homosexuality is a demon which can be driven out'." | Hywel James, the tribunal chairman, said: "You also go on in the letter to state 'There may indeed be a cure for this disability as recently I found a book. It seems to suggest that homosexuality is a demon which can be driven out'." |
| The hearing was told that the complainant - referred to only as Mr Smith - had found the comments "grossly homophobic". | The hearing was told that the complainant - referred to only as Mr Smith - had found the comments "grossly homophobic". |
| Giving evidence, Mr Pritchard said he did not like to "condemn" people but preferred to "rescue them into the church". | Giving evidence, Mr Pritchard said he did not like to "condemn" people but preferred to "rescue them into the church". |
| 'Smoke screen' | 'Smoke screen' |
| Mr Pritchard cried as he quoted from the Bible. | Mr Pritchard cried as he quoted from the Bible. |
| He was asked by the panel whether he accepted homosexual people might be offended by the term disability. | He was asked by the panel whether he accepted homosexual people might be offended by the term disability. |
| He replied: "It is definitely a disability rather than a sin". He went on to add: "I respect them as someone who is struggling with a disability as I would with someone in a wheelchair." | He replied: "It is definitely a disability rather than a sin". He went on to add: "I respect them as someone who is struggling with a disability as I would with someone in a wheelchair." |
| Mr Pritchard told the panel the objections to his comments were "a smoke screen" to divert attention away from the controversial development. | Mr Pritchard told the panel the objections to his comments were "a smoke screen" to divert attention away from the controversial development. |
| Tribunal chairman Mr James told Mr Pritchard the panel had to consider whether referring to homosexuality as a disability was a breach of the council's code of conduct. | Tribunal chairman Mr James told Mr Pritchard the panel had to consider whether referring to homosexuality as a disability was a breach of the council's code of conduct. |
| Mr Pritchard replied: "Well, I think it is. I would love to rescue them from it. Not just them, the whole lot." | Mr Pritchard replied: "Well, I think it is. I would love to rescue them from it. Not just them, the whole lot." |
| 'Serious breaches' | 'Serious breaches' |
| Mr Pritchard was judged to have breached the code of conduct on two counts - one that he brought the council into disrepute and the second that as a councillor he must show respect and consideration for others. | Mr Pritchard was judged to have breached the code of conduct on two counts - one that he brought the council into disrepute and the second that as a councillor he must show respect and consideration for others. |
| The panel found that there had been "serious breaches." | The panel found that there had been "serious breaches." |
| Mr James said: "A councillor cannot pick and choose which parts of the code of conduct they comply with." | Mr James said: "A councillor cannot pick and choose which parts of the code of conduct they comply with." |