A senior Sinn Féin member suspended after he spoke out against party policy is to be reinstated later this month, it emerged today.
Francie Molloy was suspended from the party in November he broke ranks and condemned plans to cut the number of councils in the North from 26 to seven.
It is understood Mr Molloy, who is mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, appeared before a Sinn Féin disciplinary committee before Christmas.
He has since been told he will be reinstated to the party on January 22nd.
The Mid Ulster MLA said: "I welcome the opportunity to get re-involved in the political process. I have been involved for the last 40 years and it has been a difficult time to be isolated from my fellow republicans."
The mayor declined to be drawn on whether he still held the views which led to his suspension.
Mr Molloy was censured after he spoke out against the review of public administration announced by Secretary of State Peter Hain. He called for the number of councils to be reduced to 15 whereas Sinn Féin had backed plans to cut the number to seven.
The party's rivals condemned the decision to suspend Mr Molloy and accused Sinn Féin of running a dictatorship.
PA