Politics

SDLP's Declan O'Loan to stand down from Mid and East Antrim council

Declan O'Loan has been a councillor since 1993 
Declan O'Loan has been a councillor since 1993  Declan O'Loan has been a councillor since 1993 

SDLP councillor Declan O'Loan has said he will not be standing for election in May.

Mr O'Loan said his decision not to put himself forward for election in Mid and East Antrim "is in no way related to the SDLP - Fianna Fáil partnership, which on balance I support."

The former North Antrim MLA has been a councillor since 1993. He was previously head of mathematics at St Louis Grammar School in Ballymena.

In 2010, the SDLP removed the party whip from Mr O'Loan after he issued a statement calling for a single nationalist party. He withdrew his statement and the whip was later restored.

In a statement released today, Mr O'Loan said: "I got involved in politics at a time when the troubles were still at their height. I was inspired by the leadership of John Hume, and wanted to make a contribution to reconciliation in this deeply divided society.  

"The SDLP was the right vehicle to do this, and its contribution to Irish history has been immense, the Good Friday Agreement being its finest achievement."

He was critical of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, describing it as "very much a unionist dominated council, and it would have been easy for it to show some regard for the minority nationalist population."

He said: "Decision after decision has created a cold house for nationalists, the Council being seemingly oblivious to the fact that a split community will ultimately destroy its plans to improve the economy and social welfare of its area. The collapse of the assembly has taught it nothing."