Northern Ireland

Alban Maginness steps down after three decades in politics

Alban Maginness in 2009 when he stood as the SDLP's European candidate
Alban Maginness in 2009 when he stood as the SDLP's European candidate Alban Maginness in 2009 when he stood as the SDLP's European candidate

SDLP veteran Alban Maginness has announced that he plans to stand down before May's assembly election.

The North Belfast MLA will retire from politics at the end of March when the assembly is officially dissolved ahead of the Stormont poll.

The 65-year-old's retirement will bring an end to a political career spanning more than three decades, which included a term as Belfast's first ever nationalist mayor.

A selection convention to choose the SDLP's assembly candidate for North Belfast is expected to take place within the next fortnight, with Nichola Mallon and Pat Convery, both former Belfast mayors, expected to put their names forward.

Born in Holywood, Co Down, Mr Maginness became active in the civil rights movement in the early 1970s before being called to the Bar in 1976. He was elected to Belfast City Council nine years later and served as chairman of the SDLP for seven years from 1984.

In 1997, a year before he was elected to the Stormont assembly, he became the first Catholic and nationalist to hold the post of Belfast lord mayor. An opponent of same-sex marriage, he was also the SDLP's candidate in the 2009 European election.

Speaking to The Irish News yesterday, Mr Maginness said it had been "an honour and a privilege" to serve the people of North Belfast as an SDLP representative.

He said his constituency was arguably the most divided in the north, as illustrated by the Holy Cross dispute of 2001 and the ongoing problems around parading.

"During my time I worked to bring communities together and lay the foundations for reconciliation against a background of very challenging conditions," he said.

"However, while we have peace and stability in North Belfast, we have yet to create actual reconciliation and that will be the challenge for my successor."

Mr Maginness paid tribute to his party colleagues and said standing down from the assembly had not been an easy decision.

"I'm very grateful to everyone who supported me over 31 years as a political representative, especially the dedicated and heroic group in North Belfast," he said.

"I gave my future much consideration and concluded that it was important at this time to move on and allow new people to represent the SDLP."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described the North Belfast MLA as a "pillar of honesty and decency".

"His work as a young barrister, helping to right egregious wrongs that had been committed against people in his community, was the mark of the man throughout his career," he said.

"His early work to defend civil rights and liberties is something which has stood this society in good stead through some of our darkest times."

The SDLP leader said Mr Maginness's selection as Belfast mayor was a "political breakthrough that could have gone to no better man".

"As the chair of the SDLP parliamentary and assembly group, Alban's counsel will be sorely missed in our day-to-day business," Mr Eastwood said.

"But I know that he will continue to be a powerful ally to the SDLP and to the people of North Belfast in the time ahead."