Gardiner Kane

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. 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. [ [http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/members/biogs/gkane.htm Biography - Gardine Kane Northern Ireland Assembly] ]

Kane was accused of indecently assaulting a former council worker in October 2002. He left the DUP soon afterwards, citing ill health, [" [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article900066.ece DUP veteran's sex assault case adjourned] " "Belfast Telegraph", 6 April 2004] 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. [ [http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/ana.htm North Antrim] ]

In 2004, Kane was cleared of the sexual assault charge, but was convicted of common assault. [" [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/imported/article940639.ece Ex-DUP Assemblyman is cleared of sex charge] ", "Belfast Telegraph", 14 August 2004]

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