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DUP appoints Dale Pankhurst as new Belfast councillor

New DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst with party deputy leader Nigel Dodds
New DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst with party deputy leader Nigel Dodds New DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst with party deputy leader Nigel Dodds

A DUP activist known for his outspoken remarks on Twitter has been selected by the party to become a new Belfast councillor.

Dale Pankhurst will replace Gareth McKee who resigned from Belfast City Council last month to take up other employment.

A Ballysillan resident and Orange bandsman, Mr Pankhurst attended Belfast Boys Model School and is a politics postgraduate student at Queen's University.

Among his online comments, Mr Pankhurst has previously defended burning Sinn Féin election posters on bonfires, saying it is "definitely not a hate crime" like IRA murders during the Troubles.

Mr Pankhurst yesterday described being appointed as a DUP representative for Oldpark as a "great honour".

"Having grown up in the area, I am deeply committed to this community and I look forward to serving the people to the utmost of my ability," he said.

"It is an honour to join the dedicated team of DUP representatives in north Belfast and I look forward to working alongside my party colleagues in this new capacity."

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds welcomed Mr Pankhurst's appointment.

"He has demonstrated a strong commitment to the local community in Oldpark and I know he will be a hard-working councillor going forward," the North Belfast MP said.

Mr Pankhurst will be the 17th co-option to Belfast City Council since the last election in 2014. The next council election is in 2019.