Councillor ordered to apologise after Facebook comments about Travellers

A probe into alleged inappropriate comments by a serving county councillor have concluded he was ‘careless rather than malicious’.
Easington councillor David Boyes has been told to apologise and will undertake social media and equalities trainingEasington councillor David Boyes has been told to apologise and will undertake social media and equalities training
Easington councillor David Boyes has been told to apologise and will undertake social media and equalities training

The investigation by Durham County Council centred on Facebook posts by Easington councillor David Boyes, which it was claimed demonstrated ‘offensive views’ on Travellers.

But despite agreeing Cllr Boyes’s actions breached the local authority’s code of conduct, bosses ruled the matter could be settled with a public apology and social media training.

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According to findings published by the county council’s Standards Committee: “[Cllr Boyes] maintained that in liking the comment, he was not supporting threats or violence towards anyone.

“He considered it to be a turn of phrase.

“He accepted that he should not have mentioned Travellers in his initial posts.

“He accepts that he was careless.

“He should have referred to people and he would be willing to apologise for any offence that he may have caused.”

The report followed a formal hearing by the panel earlier this month (Monday, December 14) to assess the allegations against him, although the public were barred from hearing full details of the allegations at the time due to concerns about the ‘personal information’ expected to be revealed.

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The complaint, submitted by Dermot Feenan, referenced a post on the ‘Councillors David Boyes and Angela Surtees – Easington & Hawthorn’ Facebook group by Cllr Boyes from June (2020), in which he appeared to blame Travellers for damage to picnic tables at the Easington Colliery Local Nature Reserve.

He also liked a comment replying to his original post reading ‘scum should be f**k*ng shot oxygen thieves’.

The panel heard evidence from Mr Feenan, the council’s investigator, official ‘independent person,’ and Cllr Boyes himself, who referenced a later Facebook post insisting there would be no tolerance of comments ‘that are racist in any shape or form’ on the group.

The Standards Committee’s report concluded: “The Investigating Officer confirmed that he echoed the points made that this has been careless rather than malicious.

“An apology would appear appropriate.”

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The panel also rejected suggestions by Mr Feenan that Cllr Boyes should resign his position as chairman of the county council’s Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee, which carries a special responsibility allowance worth £2,660.

Instead Cllr Boyes was instructed to publish an apology on Facebook and to undertake social media and equalities training.

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