Strabane gets first DUP chairman

Strabane District Council has elected its first DUP chairman

Strabane District Council has elected its first DUP chairman.

Councillor Thomas Kerrigan was elected unanimously at a meeting of the nationalist-dominated County Tyrone council on Tuesday night.

Mr Kerrigan, said he had served 25 years on the council and had observed over that period his party's unsuccessful attempts to win the post.

Sinn Fein's Gerard Foley was elected as vice-chairman, without the support of the DUP.

SDLP councillor Eugene McMenamin said the decision should act as an inspiration for the parties at Stormont.

"Times have changed, times are moving on, we are all moving into a new phase," he said.

"If the people at the higher level can get together the way we have here in Strabane, I think we'll have a bright future ahead for everyone in Northern Ireland."

This is not the first time that Strabane council's new chairman has hit the headlines.

He caused a stir five years ago by shaking hands with Sinn Fein's Ivan Barr when he took the post. There was no repeat of that handshake on Tuesday night.