McAlinden to step down

COUNCILLOR Mary McAlinden is to step down from the council.

She has become disillusioned with life at the civic centre and decided to call it a day.

The Loughside councillor has served the borough for the past 14 years and has said she will leave around Christmas time.

She said: "The council would shame you, it's not worth the hassle - I have put a lot of effort in and enjoyed some of it, but it is time to go."

The SDLP woman said she would wait until the legislation was in place to allow a fellow party member to be co-opted onto the council.

Cllr McAlinden is the latest councillor to make her intentions known following John O'Dowd's decision to step down and concentrate on his Assembly duties.

And David Simpson has said he is to step down following pledges his party made in the Westminster elections.

The future of the four MLAs on Craigavon Borough Council is less clear.

Stephen Moutray (DUP), Sam Gardiner and George Savage (both UUP) and Dolores Kelly (SDLP) look set to retain both council and Assembly seats for the forseeable future.