DUP MP Jim Shannon has been charged with common assault of a woman.
In a case listed at Newtownards Magistrates Court today (Mon), 71-year-old Richard James Shannon is alleged to have assaulted a female on 1 October 2023.
The alleged background has not been opened, but it is understood the complainant is a sister of the Strangford MP.
Shannon, with an address at DUP offices on Frances Street in Newtownards, did not attend court today (Mon) where defence counsel Conan Rea outlined that he has lodged a defence statement.
The court heard that the PPS will be applying to amend dates on paperwork which they had lodged.
Mr Rea, instructed by Donnelly and Wall solicitors, said however, that the defence will be objecting to that course.
He told Deputy District Judge Trevor Browne in that regard, the defence have lodged a skeleton argument detailing their objections.
With prosecuting counsel set to reply to the submissions, Judge Browne adjourned the case to 1 September.
Shannon was first elected to Ards Borough Council in 1985, where he served as mayor in 1991 and 1992.
The DUP politician was elected to the Assembly in 1998, before being re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
In 2010, he entered the House of Commons as an MP for Strangford, a position which he still holds.
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