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Sinn Féin selects two new Belfast City councillors

Sinn Féin activist Claire Canavan has been selected to replace Jim McVeigh on Belfast City Council
Sinn Féin activist Claire Canavan has been selected to replace Jim McVeigh on Belfast City Council Sinn Féin activist Claire Canavan has been selected to replace Jim McVeigh on Belfast City Council

SINN Féin have selected one of their policy advisers and the chairman of the party's youth committee to be co-opted on to Belfast City Council.

Claire Canavan (34), a trained barrister from the Clonard area of west Belfast, has been chosen to replace colleague Jim McVeigh.

A party activist since her teens, she said she was "proud and honoured" to be selected for the Court area council seat.

"I want to thank my colleagues for placing their faith in me to represent this area and I want to play my part in continuing the growth of Sinn Féin in this area and in Belfast City Council," she said.

Ryan Murphy (23) is to take over from Gerry McCabe as an Oldpark councillor.

A junior boxing champion who works on the party's Assembly policy team, he said he would work hard to represent the people of Ardoyne and Ligoniel.

"Parts of the Oldpark ward remain among some of the north's most deprived communities and yes great work has been done but much remains to be done and I look forward to playing my part in that transformation," he said.