The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Jim Shannon has been charged with common assault of a woman.

It is alleged to have happened on 1 October 2023.

In a statement, his solicitors said that the case was being “factually contested”.

Shannon, 71, with an address at DUP offices on Frances Street in Newtownards, did not attend Newtownards Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Defence counsel Conan Rea told the court that Shannon had lodged a defence statement.

The court heard that the Public Prosecution Service will be applying to amend dates on paperwork which they had lodged.

Rea said that the defence will be objecting to that.

He told deputy district judge Trevor Browne that the defence have lodged a skeleton argument detailing their objections.

With prosecuting counsel set to reply to the submissions, the judge adjourned the case to 1 September.

The DUP politician was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 1998, before being re-elected in 2003 and 2007.

In 2010, he entered the House of Commons as an MP for Strangford, a position which he still holds.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the party were aware of the issue, which he described as a “private dispute” within Shannon’s family.

He said they had begun internal proceedings but suspended them when they became aware the courts were involved.

The East Belfast MP said the party would “await the outcome” of the case before making any further decisions.