Young selected to replace McMurray for Alliance party

Young selected to replace McMurray for Alliance party

29 May 2024

ALLIANCE has chosen a successor to Slieve Croob councillor Andy McMurray four weeks after he replaced South Down MLA Patrick Brown at Stormont.

During a recent meeting of party members, Helena Young was selected to replace Mr McMurray.

From Newry, Ms Young has worked in various professions including retail, childcare, management and training.

She also worked as a domiciliary carer during the Covid pandemic. 

Ms Young has represented Alliance in the Newry area for many years and previously contested Newry, Mourne and Down Council elections in 2019 and 2023, narrowly missing out on a seat on both occasions.

The new councillor said she is “delighted and honoured” to be selected as the new Alliance representative for Slieve Croob and thanked her predecessor or his work in this role, extending her best wishes on his new MLA role

“My experience working with many community and voluntary groups, as well as being a parent and grandparent, has inspired me to use this opportunity to build an inclusive community that is a supportive space for families,” she said.

“I am really looking forward to getting started and representing my local area. Joining the Newry, Mourne and Down Council team, my priority will be to assist residents and ensure the council is actively engaging with local issues, while continuing to build on the work and success of Andrew McMurray.” 

Congratulating Helena on her selection, Mr McMurray said he had no doubt she will be a perfect fit for the role.

“I look forward to seeing what Helena achieves on Newry, Mourne and Down Council alongside her Alliance representatives,” he said.

Replaced

Almost four weeks ago, Mr McMurray replaced Mr Brown after he dramatically stood down.

His shock resignation stunned party colleagues, with Mr Brown insisting his decision to step away from frontline politics after 10 years was not linked to a probe into his conduct by a Stormont watchdog.

In a lengthy social media post, Mr Brown said he was standing down with immediate effect “due to personal reasons” and revealed he was struggling in the role and had recently been diagnosed with adult ADHD.

Stormont’s Standards and Privileges Committee is investigating a complaint against Mr Brown by Shimna Integrated College of which he is a former student.

An outdoor instructor and youth worker, Mr McMurray lives in Castlewellan with his wife and two children, with a love of outdoor pursuits leading his family to settle in the Slieve Croob area.

He has a degree in politics and a postgraduate in community and youth work and believes these experiences have made him all the more passionate about his role as a public representative.

Mr McMurray said he is committed to engaging, working with and representing all in society.

He continued: “Alliance has gone from strength to strength in South Down as people across the constituency have responded to our positive and progressive message.

“The party has grown and will continue to do so in future as we tackle issues such as developing the economy, regeneration and tourism, anti-poverty, special education needs provision, education, the environment, active travel and the development of rural infrastructure.”

Mr McMurray said the opportunity presented itself to be considered to replace Mr Brown and he felt lucky and humbled to have been chosen by his party and play an active role in the devolved administration.