12/06/2006

Larne to elect first nationalist mayor

The predominantly unionist town of Larne is this evening expected to elect its first ever nationalist mayor.

SDLP member, Danny Kennedy, who was born and raised in the County Antrim town is expected to be voted into the post as part of an historic power-sharing deal which was established at Larne Borough Council last year.

While his Larne home has been targeted by loyalists on a number of occasions, Mr Kennedy has said that having a nationalist mayor was "a further step towards normality."

He said that the town of Larne has made major progress in the past number of years and added that he felt that a corner had been turned.

"There has been a huge amount of work done by other councillors in the background in trying and make the town more peaceful.

"I just think that this is a further step down that road of normality," he said.

(EF/SP)

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