01/04/2003

Annie Courtney resigns from SDLP

A long serving member of the SDLP, Annie Courtney, has resigned from the party following her failure to be selected to stand as an MLA in the forthcoming Assembly election.

Mrs Courtney, a former SDLP assembly member for Foyle, said that her deselection in February had caused an unbelievable amount of stress in her family circle.

Previously she had hit out angrily at the voting procedure as a “sham and a farce”. However SDLP Leader Mark Durkan defended the voting procedure, which he said Mrs Courteny had taken part in, saying it was a fair means of selection of candidates.

Gerard Diver, an SDLP councillor from the Waterside, will contest Mrs Courtney assembly seat.

Mrs Courtney has declared her intention to stand as an independent councillor for Derry City Council.

(SP)

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