UUP's Hussey to defend West Tyrone seat

Ulster Unionist Mr Derek Hussey is to defend his Assembly seat in West Tyrone at the next election, it emerged today.

Ulster Unionist Mr Derek Hussey is to defend his Assembly seat in West Tyrone at the next election, it emerged today.

The constituency association chose the publican and teacher along with Omagh councillor Mr Robert Wilson as the party's candidates for Stormont.

Mr Hussey was elected on the eighth count at the last Assembly election in 1998 with 4,622 first-preference votes.

Mr Wilson is one of three Ulster Unionists on Omagh District Council. The UUP will hope to benefit from Democratic Unionist Assembly member Oliver Gibson's decision to retire at the next Assembly election.

READ MORE

The SDLP last week reselected its two West Tyrone MLAs, Mr Eugene McMenamin and Mr Joe Byrne, to defend their seats in the constituency.

Sinn Féin, which has two Assembly members, Mr Pat Doherty and Mr Barry McElduff, is targeting three seats in West Tyrone in the wake of their Westminster election success last year.

Last night, the SDLP chose two candidates to run for Stormont in Upper Bann - former Craigavon mayor Ms Dolores Kelly and councillor Mr Kieran Corr.

The party's sole MLA in Upper Bann, Stormont Agriculture Minister and SDLP deputy leader Ms Brid Rodgers, is retiring from the Assembly.

PA