A UUP candidate has been criticised by Women's Aid for giving a court reference for a man jailed for battering his ex-wife.
Brian Kerr, who has been picked to stand for the party in May's council elections, said his letter about Thompson Beckett's community work gave "statements of facts, not statements of support".
The letter was referenced in court when Beckett, 44, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting a string of violent assaults on his ex-wife.
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A judge at Belfast Crown Court said the victim suffered post-traumatic stress disorder along with physical scars.
Mr Kerr, a UUP candidate for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, stressed the defendant's actions were "abhorrent" but said his family asked for the letter.
In a statement issued through the party, he said: "A letter was submitted at the request of the individual's family and stated that during the Covid emergency Thompson Beckett had volunteered in collecting food for the daily free food market and had delivered food hampers.
"These are statements of facts, not statements of support."
Some UUP councillors publicly defended Mr Kerr, citing his work in the community running an organisation in Rathcoole which provides support on issues including housing and mental health.
Noelle Collins, area manager for Belfast and Lisburn Women's Aid, said the letter "most definitely should not have been put in".
"I think the UUP would be better served looking towards the victim," she said.
Ms Collins described domestic violence as an "epidemic" in Northern Ireland and said the letter should "not come into the equation at all".
She added: "That he showed some generosity in his life does not take away from the seriousness of what happened there. It's a serious crime.
"I'm confused as to why they put that in. A crime has been committed. What about the victim?"
Solicitor Paul Dougan, of Belfast-based firm John J Rice & Co, said the type of letter described in the case would be brought up in a sentencing hearing.
"Whether you call it a letter of support, whether you call it a character reference, whether you call it a testimonial, it's something the defence would seek to use by way of mitigation," he added.
Mr Dougan said it was "highly unlikely" that such material would be "game-changing" but it provides further information for the court to consider.
Beckett was arrested in October 2020 after turning up outside his ex-wife's home at Dunanney Avenue in the Rathcoole estate.
Neighbours raised the alarm after he was seen pulling her by the hair onto the street and punching her in the face. She sustained injuries that required stitches and dental surgery.
Beckett was later charged with and convicted of another four assaults in 2020.
As well as being jailed for two years, he was ordered by the court to spend another two years on probation following his release in late 2023.
Family law solicitor Claire Edgar, a partner at Francis Hanna & Co in Belfast, said the justice system must recognise the difficulties faced by domestic abuse victims.
She said: "It is important that we are aware that this is a crime which often takes place behind closed doors. Perpetrators may be regarded as upstanding members of the community and this in itself can be a barrier to victims reporting their abuse for fear of not being believed.
"The justice system needs to remain alive to these difficulties faced by victims."
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