Northern Ireland

Portrait of Stormont’s first nationalist speaker unveiled

Mitchel McLaughlin was the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2015 to 2016.

Former Stormont Assembly speaker Mitchel McLaughlin and his wife Marylou stand beside a portrait of himself, painted by Catherine Creaney, as it is unveiled in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings
Former Stormont Assembly speaker Mitchel McLaughlin and his wife Marylou stand beside a portrait of himself, painted by Catherine Creaney, as it is unveiled in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings (Liam McBurney/PA)

An official portrait of former Stormont Assembly speaker Mitchel McLaughlin has been unveiled at Parliament Buildings in Belfast.

Mr McLaughlin was joined by his family, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and current speaker Edwin Poots as the portrait painted in oil by local artist Catherine Creaney was unveiled.

Sinn Fein’s Mr McLaughlin was the first nationalist speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, holding the post from 2015 to 2016.



Stormont Assembly speaker Edwin Poots with Mitchel McLaughlin
Stormont Assembly speaker Edwin Poots with Mitchel McLaughlin (Liam McBurney/PA)

Delivering a speech at the ceremony at Stormont, Mr McLaughlin said society was in a better place with the Assembly operating.

He said: “As speaker my maxim was you can’t expect respect for your principles or your interests if you don’t show respect for others.

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“My sense of the place we are in now is that it is much more positive.

“There is a working dynamic as opposed to people who are hindering or antagonising colleagues.

“Given the background of conflict in our society over many years, that was a challenge for people to rise above.”

Mr Poots said: “The election of Mr McLaughlin as the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly was one of those moments of history for the institutions and for wider politics in Northern Ireland.

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and junior minister Pam Cameron attended the ceremony
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and junior minister Pam Cameron attended the ceremony (Liam McBurney/PA)

“When he took up the office he became the first nationalist/republican to serve following the retirement of his predecessor William Hay.”

Mr Poots said that at the time the running joke in Stormont was that you had to be from Derry to become speaker.

He added: “I can give personal testimony to the authority, impartiality and dignity that he brought to the role.

“Managing the business of the House can bring many challenges to a speaker.

“However, Mitchel McLaughlin conducted business with self-assurance and confidence that ensured that matters were dealt with in a professional and a respectful fashion.”

The portrait of Mr McLaughlin joins those of his predecessors Eileen Bell, Lord Alderdice and Lord Hay, which are on public display in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings.