Move to oust councillor

Omagh District Council will tonight discuss a motion that calls on a dissident republican councillor Mr Francie Mackey to resign…

Omagh District Council will tonight discuss a motion that calls on a dissident republican councillor Mr Francie Mackey to resign. Mr Mackey is the chairman of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement.

Sinn Fein last night called on Mr Mackey to resign and for the council to allow a Sinn Fein co-option. Mr Mackey was elected on a Sinn Fein ticket but was expelled from the party earlier this year over his membership of the Sovereignty Movement, which opposes the peace process.

A Sinn Fein councillor, Mr Sean Clarke, said they had made many attempts to encourage Mr Mackey to resign. "He should before now have honoured his pledge of office to Sinn Fein and indeed the electorate and done the honourable thing and resigned."

Mr Mackey was unavailable for comment.