Sinn Féin selects two new MLAs for Foyle constituency

Pádraig Delargy and Ciara Ferguson have been selected as Sinn Féin's Assembly members (MLAs) in the Foyle constituency.

They were chosen following a selection convention in Derry on Wednesday evening, subject to approval by the party's ard chomhairle.

Mr Delargy is a 25-year-old primary school teacher in Derry, while Ms Ferguson is a community development worker in the city.

It is understood they were among four candidates who had put their names forward for the positions.

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They will replace former MLAs Martina Anderson, a former MEP and convicted IRA bomber, and Karen Mullan, who both stood down from their posts following an internal party review into poor electoral performances in the constituency.

In 2019, Sinn Féin’s Elisha McCallion lost the Westminster seat to SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, and earlier that year Sinn Féin lost five seats and its position as the largest party on Derry City and Strabane District Council.

‘Experience and enthusiasm’

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty, in a statement, congratulated Mr Delargy and Ms Ferguson on their selection and said they would bring "a great deal of experience and enthusiasm to our Assembly team at such a crucial time for politics across the island of Ireland and a new era for Sinn Féin in Derry".

He also thanked Ms Anderson and Ms Mullan “for all the hard work they have done on behalf of this constituency and Sinn Féin as they take up new, important roles”.

Ms Anderson is to take on a role for the party in Europe promoting Irish unity, while Ms Mullan will be involved in strengthening cross-Border co-operation among the party in the northwest.

Last month the Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, said the party “needed a shake-up” in Foyle.