A VETERAN republican who served 21 years in jail is to step down as a Sinn Féin councillor.
South Derry man Peter Bateson will bow out of politics this week.
He was first elected to Magherafelt council in 2005 and has held a seat on Mid Ulster council since 2015.
The 63-year-old is well known in his native Co Derry and republican circles across the north.
He served two terms in prison totalling 21 years before being released in 1998 under the Good Friday Agreement.
It is expected he will be replaced on Mid Ulster council by Donal McPeake, a long standing Sinn Féin member from a strong republican background.
Mr Bateson said he will continue to work within Sinn Féin.
“I am doing other things in the party and would be very much of the opinion you need to rejuvenate and re-energise,” he said.
He said it was a very “exciting time for politics in Ireland” and that Brexit had brought forward the likelihood of a border poll.
He added that he is “inspired” by the young people coming through Sinn Féin's ranks.
Mr Bateson was afforded ‘political status’ during his first period in prison and says he “admired” the men who were involved in prison protest at that time.
He said the majority of former republican prisoners he met had no regrets.
"I am a member of the ex-prisoner community and meet ex-prisoners every day and have not met one who regrets their involvement in the struggle," he said.
