A Fermanagh native and former DUP Mayor for Antrim and Newtownabbey has been given a five month council suspension after he was convicted of drink driving.

Thomas Hogg, who is a current councillor admitted to drink driving in court in May 2018.

He was banned from driving for 12 months and fined £250 and was later suspended from the DUP. That suspension has now been lifted although he faces five months out of the Council chambers.

Mr. Hogg, 30, is a former pupil of Portora Royal school and was involved in some controversy in Fermanagh when the DUP attempted to co-opt him to the Fermanagh District Council when he was still a student in 2009. A by election was held with Arlene Foster winning the seat.

Speaking on Monday of this week Mr. Hogg said:

"My conduct let down my constituents and party. It was wrong and will not happen again".

The DUP said: "We suspended Councillor Hogg for eight months. That suspension has now been lifted".

Adding: "We note the sanction, Councillor Hogg's fulsome apology and his commitment to ensure this behaviour is never repeated".

In 2016 Mr. Hogg was awarded an MBE and at the time told the Impartial Reporter:

“This is not something I ever contemplated or imagined, but I am nonetheless very honoured and humbled.”