Conor Heaney to replace Mickey Cooper on council

A former advisor to the late Martin McGuinness when he was Deputy First Minister is to take the place of Mickey Cooper on Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Conor Heaney was picked to replace the outgoing Foyleside Councillor Mickey Cooper at a selection convention which took place on Tuesday night.

Mr. Heaney is married with two children and lives in the Foyleside area.

In 2007 he was appointed as a Special Advisor to Michelle Gildernew when she was Minister for Agriculture and acted in the same role to Michelle O’Neill when she held that role.

In 2013 Martin McGuinness brought Mr. Heaney into the Executive Office as an advisor.

He was part of the Sinn Fein negotiating team during the Stormont House and Fresh Start agreements.

In 2016 he was a Special Advisor to Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard up until Stormont collapsed and helped get key projects like the A6 and NW Transport Hub over the line.

In 2019, Mr Heaney stood as a Sinn Fein candidate in the Faughan area but failed to get elected to Derry City and Strabane District Council.

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