A FORMER Sinn Féin MLA has been appointed as a new councillor.
Catherine Nelson (nee Seeley) was co-opted by the party last night onto Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council.
She will replace Maire Cairns, who is retiring from the council after representing the Lurgan area for almost four years.
Mrs Nelson was elected as a Sinn Féin MLA for Upper Bann in 2016 but did not stand again in the snap election last year following the Stormont executive's collapse.
At the time the 30-year-old said it had "not been an easy decision", but she wanted to "return to teaching".
In 2014, Mrs Nelson quit her teaching post at the Boys' Model School in the loyalist Ballysillan area of north Belfast after receiving online sectarian abuse following her co-option as a Sinn Féin councillor in the old Craigavon Borough Council.
She was subsequently elected as a councillor for the Lurgan area in the new council in May of that year, but was replaced by Liam Mackle after becoming an MLA in 2016.
Mr Mackle, the party's deputy group leader on the council, said: "It has been a great privilege and honour to work with Maire.
"We are also delighted that Catherine Nelson is stepping forward into the role. Catherine is an experienced activist who will work hard for those she will represent."
