Hawkesbury Mayor Pat Conolly steps down after ’terrifying’ alleged home invasion

A prominent western Sydney mayor has announced he will resign after a “terrifying and traumatic” alleged home invasion which saw him end up in hospital with stab wounds earlier this year.

Hawkesbury Mayor Pat Conolly has announced he’ll step down from the role in the wake of a “terrifying” alleged home invasion which left him with stab wounds.

Mr Conolly told The Daily Telegraph his family, including his wife and their four young children, haven’t returned to their Bligh Park home following the May incident.

Police last month arrested four teenagers in connection with the home invasion, which left Mr Conolly with stab wounds to his upper left arm.

But after attempting to juggle his young family and a difficult role as mayor of the flood-ravaged Hawkesbury region, Mr Conolly said the strain following the alleged assault was too much.

“I loved my job (and) representing the community as Mayor was an absolute privilege … I had only recently been re-elected,” he said.

Patrick Conolly the Mayor of Hawkesbury Council will resign following an alleged home invasion at his house earlier this year.

“However, the incident at our home was terrifying and obviously incredibly traumatic for my children and being around to provide constant support and reassurance as they deal with it is my number one priority.”

Police will allege Mr Conolly was injured when, shortly after midnight on May 16, four teens busted into his Bligh Park home, stealing a car.

Mr Conolly and his wife and children.

Late last month Strike Force investigators and Raptor Squad officers executed a search warrant at a Macquarie Fields, with four young males – one aged 16, two aged 17, and one aged 18 – arrested later and charged with a string of offences.

All of them were charged with robbery in company while armed with dangerous weapon, special aggravated break and enter and steal motor vehicle among other offences.

In a letter tendered to the council’s general manager last week, Mr Conolly said the pressure of family life and public life in the wake of the fracas was too difficult.

“After attempting to balance these competing demands, my priority clearly needs to be my family, to ensure my children recover from this trauma, and to look after my own mental health as well,” he said.

Mr Conolly said his mayoral responsibilites and recovering from the alleged home invasion were too difficult to balance.

“In the short term, I cannot continue to properly represent the community and fulfil my more important roles as a father and husband.”

Mr Conolly told The Daily Telegraph there had been little closure for his traumatised family following the arrests, revealing it was “too hard” to return to where the alleged incident took place.

“My wife and children found it too hard to be in our home after the experience, and we have been unable to return,” he said.

“This has meant months of living with family while sorting out a very unplanned move at the same time as seeking the support we have all required.”

Mr Conolly will remain on council, with a meeting next week to decide the next mayor.