A CONTROVERSIAL councillor who aimed “gratuitous and offensive” comments at fellow elected members has been suspended for seven months.

Paul Mack, who represents Paisley Southeast as an independent, was punished by the Standards Commission for Scotland for a second breach of the Councillor’s Code of Conduct in as many years.

The hearing panel was shown footage of a council meeting on September 29 and found Cllr Mack repeatedly talked and shouted over Provost Lorraine Cameron and failed to comply with her rulings, causing the meeting to be adjourned twice.

A motion was passed during the meeting to suspend Cllr Mack from the chamber.

During the same meeting, Cllr Mack is said to have made a number of gratuitous, personal and offensive remarks, along with a number of serious allegations about other councillors.

The hearing panel said it was “disappointed” it had to ban Cllr Mack, having previously suspended him for similar antics.

Michael McCormick, hearing panel chair, said: “The Hearing Panel considers Cllr Mack’s behaviour which, by his own admission was a deliberate course of action, went well beyond that which is acceptable in that he shouted over the chair and seriously disrupted the meeting.

“The Hearing Panel was concerned Cllr Mack showed no appreciation that he was obliged to comply with the Code of Conduct, which applies to all councillors.”

Cllr Mack told The Gazette yesterday he plans to appeal against the decision.