City's new councillor

On Monday evening he was officially co-opted by the DUP to replace the Party's MLA locally, William Hay, who earlier this year announced that he was bowing out of local council politics. Undaunted by the size of political boots that he has to fill, Gary said he has been working closely with Mr Hay and other Party members, and was confident of their support and advice. He will step into the Council Chamber for his first 'live' debate in December.

"They are big boots that I am going to fill, but we are close and I have been working with William for a while. I will be able to attend more council meetings than him, because, obviously he has commitments to meet as Speaker of the Assembly," he said.

Gary developed an interest in politics four years ago, but it was not until he was 17 and joined Newbuildings Victoria LOL1087, and met DUP stalwart Maurice Devenney, that he took the plunge into the local arena.

It was a move that made him the butt of some good-natured jokes at home, where his parents, Trevor and Angela and his younger brother, Darryl, who is 15, have kept his feet on the ground

"You get the usual comments about standing beside a hedge with a long face on me, but it has not been too bad. I don't tend to discuss it with them, to be honest. They know what I'm doing and support me, but I don't sit at home at night and discuss what I am doing with them," he says.

A former pupil of Newbuildings Primary School, and the former Clondermot High School, Gary finished his school days as a pupil of Lisneal College, although he was not one of the first pupils to enjoy the benefits of moving to the new school building near to Crescent Link.

"I was in Fourth Year when they were amalgamated and the Faughan Valley was turned into the senior school and we were moved down. I didn't get to the new school and when I finished I went to North West Regional College in Limavady for two years and studied a National Diploma for IT practitioners.

"It is all to do with computer programming, hardware and software," he said.

It's all a far cry from politics.

"From a young age at school I was interested in politics. I was always involved in debates and stuff.

"We didn't have a debating society but in English as part of our coursework we were always having debates and I was involved in a Young Enterprise group - we had to design a product and sell it. It was all about team building," he said.

"I didn't study politics in school, and I have no family members involved in politics. I got into local politics through my good friend Maurice Devenney through the Lodge when I joined."

Asked what he thought he could bring to the political table, he said: "My age. I'm young and I think you need a mixture of both experience and youth.

"With me being a student I can bring forth issues relevant to my age group, such as student fees. I think more young people need to get involved in politics and I think that I can be someone that young people can relate to."

Asked if he thought his lack of life experience would intimidate him when it came to making his presence felt in the debating chamber, he said: "No. I have a good team around me.

"The Foyle branch of the DUP is very strong and they are a good team. I know that I won't have to go far if I need any advice or guidance."

He said his particular areas of interest included the political hot potato, student fees, as well as the forthcoming UK City of Culture celebrations.

"I would like to be there pushing hard at the City of Culture, getting all communities involved, but especially my own community.

"I think it is important that we show our culture at its best particularly in that year," he said, adding: "I'm looking forward to working for my constituents and the local communities.

"I will be serving the rual area, so I will be working in Newbuildings, Eglinton and Claudy, and I am just looking forward to dealing with the issues that arise."