First nationalist mayor for town

Danny O'Connor said Larne had turned a corner on sectarianism

The town of Larne has elected its first mayor from a nationalist party.

SDLP councillor Danny O'Connor, a Catholic, who was born and raised in the predominantly unionist County Antrim town, was elected on Monday.

He was voted in as part of an historic power-sharing deal with the three other main parties on Larne Borough Council.

In the past, Mr O'Connor's home has been attacked by loyalists but he said Larne having a nationalist mayor was "a further step towards normality".

Ahead of the vote, Mr O'Connor said: "We're not where we used to be.

"There was a time in Larne when there were a lot of problems - a lot of houses were attacked, but I do believe that we've turned a corner.

"There has been a huge amount of work done by other councillors in the background in trying and make the town more peaceful.

"I just think that this is a further step down that road of normality."