DISGRACED councillor Paul Mack today quit his position on Renfrew
District Council.
He resigned as the council's deputy Labour leader -- a job he has held
for just three months - after being found guilty of assaulting his
ex-girlfriend and causing a breach of the peace at her home.
Mr Mack (38), was yesterday fined #200 at Paisley Sheriff Court.
Labour colleagues met in secret session and afterwards councillor Ken
McGinlay said: ''Councillor Mack's resignation has been accepted by the
Labour Group Executive and action will be taken quickly to appoint a
successor.''
Councillor Mack, who represents the Hunterhill Ward in Paisley, is now
certain to face internal disciplinary action for bringing the Labour
Party into disrepute.
Youngest
His rise to power through the Labour ranks since he was first elected
in 1992 has been meteoric and his downfall yesterday was just as
spectacular.
Last year he became the youngest ever chairman of the Renfrew District
Licensing Board - a post he quit when elected deputy leader of the
ruling Labour group just three months ago.
Opposition SNP group leader Bruce McFee said: ''He has brought his own
position and the entire district into disrepute.''
Victim
Councillor Mack, of Cathcart Crescent, Paisley, was found guilty of
assaulting ex-girlfriend Catherine Woods (50) and causing a breach of
the peace at her home in Greenlaw Avenue, Paisley, on May 10 this year.
During the trial Councillor Mack claimed he had been the victim of a
bizarre plot by a local publican to regain his late-night drinks
licence.
He claimed he had been lured to Mrs Woods' home on false pretences and
that she had tried to catch him on film in a compromising position.
But he alleged he found her brother - ex-footballer Alan Mackin -
hiding in a wardrobe with a video camera.
In the witness box Mr Mackin (38), who runs Jo Allens in Causeyside
Street, admitted a drinks curfew had hit business.
But when asked about the plot he said: ''That is absolutely
ridiculous.''
Appeal
Councillor Mack's lawyer, Iain Robertson, told Sheriff James Spy that
the guilty verdict would have serious repercussions. . . ''the end of
his political career.''
Councillor Mack said he would be considering an appeal.
Publican Mr Mackin today said he was considering taking action against
Councillor Mack over his claims in coiurt.
He added: ''I have had a meeting with my lawyer to consider taking
this a stage further. I was not in my sister's house at the time of the
incident and any suggestion otherwise is preposterous.''
A depute fiscal from Kilmarnock was brought in yesterday to conduct
the case amid claims that local fiscals would not handle the case.
The depute fiscal at Paisley John McDonald said this had been ''an
operational decision'' and added : ''We have no comment on anything
Councillor Mack wishes to say.''
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