DOUBLE MAYORAL WIN FOR DUP

THE mandate of the DUP in Northern Ireland was strengthened as Mildred Garfield and Kim Norton were elected mayor of Londonderry and Castlereagh respectively on Thursday evening.

Mildred Garfield, a school canteen worker and mother of three, was unanimously elected mayor with support from the SDLP, Sinn Féin and unionist councillors. Peter Anderson from Sinn Féin was elected deputy mayor.

There some trouble at the presentation of the mayoralty ceremony when Councillor Garfield refused to accept the chain from outgoing Sinn Féin Mayor Cathal Crumley. Mr Crumley was elected the first ever Sinn Féin councillor of Londonderry last year. Instead the chain was handed over by the town clerk Cathal Logue to the new first citizen.

Ms Garfield said that she would have no problem with carrying out her mayoral duties in nationalists areas of Londonderry although she also said that she would have to think hard about any meetings with any head of state from the Republic of Ireland.

She said her priority would be to attract new business to the area and to end the historical trend of violence in the city.

Kim Norton, a housewife and mother of three, is one of 19 Thalidomide victims in Northern Ireland. She was born without legs and badly deformed hand as a result of the Thalidomide drug.

She was elected to the post by an overwhelming majority of councillors on the DUP-dominated council.

Councillor Norton said that her disability would not hinder her from performing her mayoral duties and she commended the Castlereagh council on their support for providing ramps in the council chamber and a special lectern.

Mrs Norton, who is no stranger to the limelight, came to attention when she went on hunger strike to demand better compensation for Thalidomide victims and a public inquiry into the scandal. (AMcE)