An Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) councillor has been suspended for two months by a standards watchdog over failing to register conflicts of interest related to his role as a Stormont adviser.

Mark Ovens sits on Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and is also employed as a special adviser to Health Minister Robbie Butler.

The Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards Margaret Kelly said there had been a "conscious and ongoing disregard" of obligations under the councillors' code of conduct.

Ovens said his role at Stormont was "openly known" and he regularly declared it but accepted he "should have adopted an even more precautionary approach".

The suspension related to issues with declaring interests at council meetings between February 2024 and July 2025.

Complaints against Ovens were made to the standards watchdog and an adjudication hearing was held on Thursday.

The watchdog said although councillors must register their interests within 28 days of their appointment, Ovens did not submit his form until November 2025 - more than two years after he became a councillor.

In a statement it added that while Ovens regularly made declarations of interest during meetings over his special adviser role, "having done so he failed to leave the meeting, as required by the code".

The watchdog continued: "There were other occasions where the councillor did not declare an interest on similar issues, and one occasion where he remained for a confidential legal briefing which conflicted with his role."

In submissions the hearing was told Ovens "did not speak or vote on the relevant matters" during the meetings in question, and his role as a special adviser "was openly known to members of the council".

It was also noted the councillor had shown "cooperation with the adjudication process" and an "early acceptance of the breaches".

The watchdog also received complaints that criticisms Ovens had made of the council had breached the "respect principle".

However, the commissioner determined the claims would not be taken forward for adjudication as it was the role of councillors "to bring scrutiny to council actions".

In a statement Ovens said: "I accept today's findings.

"I should have registered my interests sooner and, even though remaining in meetings was, and still is, the prevailing practice for almost all other councillors after declaring an interest on items, I should have adopted an even more precautionary approach.

"But the full circumstances matter. My appointment as a special adviser was openly known to members of the council, I regularly declared that interest, and the commissioner found that I never spoke or voted on any of the relevant matters."

Ovens said he was glad other allegations against him were dismissed, adding: "My priority has always been the ratepayers of Fermanagh and Omagh - not protecting the institution of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council from scrutiny."

UUP deputy leader Diana Armstrong said Ovens "continues to have my full support and that of the Ulster Unionist Party".

The assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone said Ovens has "continued to stand up for ratepayers" and accused the council of a "cold-house approach to scrutiny".

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has been approached for comment.