Ex-unionist official in theft charges

Alastair Patterson resigned as UUP chief executive

The Ulster Unionist Party's former chief executive has been charged with 30 counts of theft and false accounting.

Alastair Patterson was questioned last July by detectives investigating alleged irregularities at the electoral office in Omagh, County Tyrone.

Police confirmed on Thursday that a 58-year-old man had been charged with 17 counts of theft and 13 of false accounting.

He is expected to appear in court in Omagh on 11 November.

The Ulster Unionists confirmed on Thursday that Mr Patterson had resigned as chief executive.

The party released a statement saying that it had noted the development with regret, but could not make further comment as the matter was before the courts.

Before he was the party's chief executive, Mr Patterson was best known as the returning officer who declared IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands' victory in the Fermanagh-South Tyrone Westminster election in 1981.