One of Derry’s best known and respected politicians is to step down from Derry City Council next week, bringing to an end a 32 year association with the local authority.
John TIerney.
Cllr John Tierney, SDLP representative for the Northland area in the city, will formally leave the position on Monday next, October 1.
Born in Derry, Cllr Tierney worked as a tool setter before joining the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).
He was elected to Derry City Council in 1981 and served as mayor of the city in 1984.
In 1996, Cllr Tierney was elected to the Northern Ireland Forum for Foyle and he held his seat at the Northern Ireland Assembly election two years later.
He stood down from the Council in 2001 and the following year became the whip of the SDLP group on the Assembly.
He stood down from the Assembly at the 2003 election and in 2007 was co-opted back on to Derry City Council to replace party colleague Seanna Hume.
Cllr Tierney is the second long-serving council member to step down from the council in the past seven days. Last week, Sinn Fein councillor for the Waterside area, Lynn Fleming, also a former mayor, announced she too was standing down.
SDLP Cllr Brenda Stevenson paid tribute to her senior party colleague.
She said: “John will be sorely missed. His advice was sound and wise.”
The resignation are two of a number expected ahead of the major shake-up of local government with the Review of Public Administration.
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