Northern Ireland

Alliance councillor and former police chief dies

Barney Fitzpatrick served as an Alliance councillor for the Causeway area of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council
Barney Fitzpatrick served as an Alliance councillor for the Causeway area of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Barney Fitzpatrick served as an Alliance councillor for the Causeway area of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council

A Portstewart councillor and former police chief superintendent who died on Saturday has been praised for his public service.

Barney Fitzpatrick, an Alliance member of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, was first elected to the Coleraine Borough Council in 2006 following 40 years as a police officer.

Alliance leader Naomi Long said he "served the local community all his life".

"Even over recent months in failing health, he continued to faithfully and diligently undertake his public duties at the council," she said.

“He was a man of deep religious faith, who believed passionately in reconciliation and in healing the divisions in our community."

Council mayor Joan Baird also said Mr Fitzpatrick "served the people of the area with unwavering diligence".

"His presence will be greatly missed in the council chamber where his integrity and commitment to enhancing and promoting the borough were always to the fore," the Ulster Unionist said.

SDLP MLA John Dallat also said he will be "sorely missed not just in Portstewart but in many other places where he will be fondly remembered for his very positive contribution to society in many ways".

Mr Fitzpatrick is survived by his wife Teresa, four children and four grandchildren.

His funeral Mass will take place in St Mary’s Star of the Sea Church, Portstewart tomorrow at 11am followed by burial in Agherton Cemetery.