Northern Ireland

DUP councillors consider positions following resignation

Portadown councillor, Darryn Causby said he has been unhappy with the direction the DUP has been taking for some time.
Portadown councillor, Darryn Causby said he has been unhappy with the direction the DUP has been taking for some time. Portadown councillor, Darryn Causby said he has been unhappy with the direction the DUP has been taking for some time.

A FORMER DUP mayor has quit the party following Edwin Poots' resignation as leader.

Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon councillor Darryn Causby said he had been unhappy with the direction the party was taking for some time.

He intends continuing as an independent and ruled out moving to any other party.

"It's not as simple as Edwin's resignation. I have been unhappy for a long time. I supported Edwin Poots' leadership but I think the situation is now that the party will keep Stormont on the road. I cannot reconcile myself with that," he told The Irish News.

"It's been an unfortunate chain of events. Edwin is someone I hold in high regard and high esteem. This is not personal, it's political."

Elsewhere, former veteran DUP councillor, Glyn Hanna confirmed that he would not rule out a return to the party.

Mr Hanna and fellow Newry, Mourne and Down member Kathryn Owen left last month following Arlene Foster's resignation. Mr Hanna’s daughter, Diane Forsythe, a past DUP Westminster candidate, also resigned.

Their resignations were followed by that of Derry DUP councillor Ryan McCready who described the treatment of Mrs Foster as “disgraceful”.

Mr Hanna told The Irish News yesterday he was monitoring developments following Mr Poots’ resignation.

“I am sitting here in my big armchair and I’m watching what’s going on. I have not ruled out a return,” he said.

Mrs Owen said she did not wish to comment on any of the political developments of recent days while Mr McCready did not respond to contacts from The Irish News.