Gardiner Kane

Gardiner Kane
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Antrim North
In office 25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003
Preceded by	New Creation
Succeeded by	Philip McGuigan
Personal details
Born	25 November 1947 Ballymoney
Political party	Democratic Unionist Party
Religion	Protestant

Andrew Gardiner Kane, known as Gardiner Kane (born 25 November 1947) is a former Unionist politician in Northern Ireland.

Born in Ballymoney, Kane joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1974 and served until 1984. He joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and was elected to Moyle District Council in 1985, serving as its Chair in 1990 and 1996. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, representing North Antrim at the 1998 election.^[1]

Kane was accused of indecently assaulting a former council worker in October 2002. He left the DUP soon afterwards, citing ill health,^[2] and stood down from his council seat soon afterwards, prompting a by-election. Kane contested the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003 as an independent, but took only 623 votes and was not elected.^[3]

In 2004, Kane was cleared of the sexual assault charge, but was convicted of common assault.^[4]

Gardiner Kane is an active member of the all Loyal Orders, namely the Orange Order, Apprentice Boys of Derry, and Royal Black Institution

References

1. Biography - Gardine Kane Northern Ireland Assembly
2. "DUP veteran's sex assault case adjourned" Belfast Telegraph, 6 April 2004
3. North Antrim
4. "Ex-DUP Assemblyman is cleared of sex charge", Belfast Telegraph, 14 August 2004