ROW AFTER ORANGE LODGE IS SUSPENDED; Claim that action linked to ejection of member.

Byline: LIZ TRAINOR

AN ORANGE Order district Lodge has been SUSPENDED by its County masters after disciplining a convicted fraudster in its ranks.

Killead District in Co Antrim claims it was told that IT would be suspended for 12 months after it took action against Roy Thompson, an independent councillor and Justice of the Peace.

The lodge suspended Thompson, a farmer from Greenhill Road in Ballyutoag, after he was convicted of subsidy fraud for making false claims for payment on farm animals last November.

Thompson was caught by the Department of Agriculture's Grants and Subsidies Inspection division who visited his farm on February 28 last year to verify his claim.

The Independent Antrim councillor, who was once a DUP Westminster candidate, admitted putting in a false claim for 26 sheep that would have paid him a subsidy of pounds 465.

He apologised to the court and was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs.

Because of the conviction, his local district decided to suspend him from Ballyhill LOL 404 - but were then told by the County Grand Lodge that they would be suspended for a year, it's alleged.

Sources in Killead say the suspension came as a shock, especially since the Orange Order had pledged to get tough on criminals within the institution.

Criticism has been heaped on the institution in recent years for failing to act against law breakers.

More recently it has come under pressure to take action against convicted criminals in its ranks.

Last year the Grand Lodge said that convicted criminals would face automatic expulsion although dozens with convictions still remain members.

They include killer cop Billy McCaughey who is still a member of his local lodge. Former RUC officer McCaughey, 51, was jailed for the murder of shopkeeper William Strathearn in 1977.

Another high profile member who was never expelled included notorious Newcastle killer Norman Coopey.

He was convicted of killing Castlewellan teenager James Morgan and dumping his body in a pit of animal carcasses. Despite his conviction he was able to resign.

One source at Killead said: "They are making fools out of themselves again and are leaving themselves open to further criticism. This guy has a conviction but yet he is still a member of his local lodge but yet its the district who get penalised for trying to be accountable."

But secretary for Co Antrim Grand Lodge William Leathem appeared confused about reasons for the suspension.

Admitting that Thompson was still a member despite his conviction, he said: "It's an internal matter and (the suspension) wasn't solely to do with Mr Thompson."

When asked if Thompson was still under suspension he said: "He wasn't found guilty in court."

Mr Leathem later said that the disciplinary action against Killead district 'wasn't anything to do with Mr Thompson'.

CAPTION(S):

CONVICTED: Thompson

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Publication:	The People (London, England)
Date:	Jun 20, 2004
Words:	472
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