SDLP’S BRENDA STEVENSON TO BE LAST MAYOR OF DERRY

Brenda Stevenson.

She was selected by her party earlier tonight to become the city’s First Citizen when Derry City Council holds its final annual general meeting on Monday.

Cllr Stevenson will hold the post until 1 April next year when the newly-formed Derry City and Strabane District Council comes into effect.

She will succeed her party colleague Cllr Martin Reilly as Mayor.

Cllr Reilly was among the first to congratulate Cllr Stevenson, a niece for former SDLP leader John Hume.

Cllr Reilly said:”I know she’ll be a determined advocate and a passionate voice for our city.”

Cllr Stevenson failed to get elected to the new “super council” in last week’s local government election.

The first meeting of the Derry-Strabane “Super Council” will take place next week when a presiding councillor will be appointed to the new local authority which will sit in “shadow form” with Derry City Council until April next year.