Northern Ireland

Gary Donnelly walks out of council meeting over police presence

Independent councillor Gary Donnelly attending the first meeting of Derry and Strabane council in 2014. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Independent councillor Gary Donnelly attending the first meeting of Derry and Strabane council in 2014. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Independent councillor Gary Donnelly attending the first meeting of Derry and Strabane council in 2014. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

INDEPENDENT councillor Gary Donnelly has walked out of a meeting of Derry City and Strabane council yesterday over the presence of a PSNI officer.

Mr Donnelly, a leading figure in dissident republican circles, left a meeting of the council’s health and community committee in Strabane on Thursday.

He said his decision was in protest at the presence of PSNI inspector Jonny Hunter.

Inspector Hunter attended the meeting with others to discuss August 15 bonfires.

Mr Donnelly said he would not “give credence” to any impression that the PSNI cared about his community.