A FORMER Downing Street spin doctor is set to replace the SDLP's Claire Hanna in the Stormont assembly.
Co Down-born Matthew O'Toole is being co-opted as MLA for South Belfast following Ms Hanna's election to Westminster last month.
Mr O'Toole is a cousin of Aidan O'Toole, the barman who was on duty the night in 1994 when the UVF shot dead six customers in Loughinisland's Heights Bar.
Up until this week, he worked for communications firm Powerscourt, which has offices in Dublin and London. He previously worked as chief press officer at 10 Downing Street and for the Treasury, as well as head of media relations at HSBC Commercial Banking.
Notably, the 36-year-old St Andrews' University graduate was earmarked as the SDLP's Westminster candidate in South Down for the recent general election but ultimately the party opted for its former chief executive Michael Savage.
Speaking yesterday after being unveiled as Stormont's latest recruit, Mr O’Toole said he was joining the assembly at a "critical moment".
"The absence of power sharing has put immense pressure on public services, especially the health service, which is felt acutely in places like South Belfast," he said.
“Brexit has also made Northern Ireland immensely vulnerable and been damaging to community relations."
He described South Belfast as the "most diverse and open" constituency.
"I believe deeply in building in a shared society, and South Belfast is an example of how a diverse community can live and work together – I am proud to be their representative," he said.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP said Mr O'Toole had a "strong background in economic policy".
"Having worked across government and the private sector, Matthew brings an immense amount of experience that will be critical to our efforts to rebalance Northern Ireland’s economy, attract new jobs and defend people here from the impact of Brexit," he said.
Ms Hanna said her replacement would "make an outstanding MLA".
"His understanding of economic development and the tools available to government that can transform places and the lives of people is second to none and will be an immense asset as we attract new jobs and new industries to this city," she said.
