Durkan steps down as SDLP leader

Mr Durkan relinquished the leadership of the party at the weekend at the SDLP annual conference in Newcastle, County Down.

After a contest for the leadership, Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie out polled the other candidate, Dr Alasdair McDonnell.

In his final address Mr Durkan attacked Sinn Fin for agreeing the appointment of a justice minister outside the d'Hondt system of proportional representation.

Mark Durkan also paid tribute to former leader John Hume in his speech.