Máirtín Ó’Muilleoir to be Sinn Féin candidate in Balmoral

He neglected to mention it in his farewell to the blog, as he neglected to mention his interim position as a non-executive director on the NI Water Board, but the BBC reports that, the now former publisher of the Belfast Media Group titles, Máirtín Ó’Muilleoir is to stand as the Sinn Féin candidate in the Balmoral district area of Belfast City Council.

And I thought he was going “to concentrate on the job of group managing director”?

Btw, the BBC report – “Former Sinn Fein councillor Mairtin O’Muilleoir is to re-enter politics as a party representative on Belfast City Council” – may need to be revised, since there isn’t a Sinn Féin councillor for the area in the Council at present…

Adds  The Belfast Telegraph report has some quotes from Máirtín Ó’Muilleoir and notes

But Mr O Muilleoir denied that his return to politics would see him also make a bid for Gerry Adams’s West Belfast Westminster seat when the Sinn Fein president steps down to stand for election in the Dail next year.

Although the report also claims

A Sinn Fein meeting is expected to endorse his bid to replace Alex Maskey, who is leaving Belfast City Council, but who will remain a South Belfast MLA.

No, that would make him a representative for Lagan Bank, not Balmoral.

Update  According to a report in the Irish News

Mr O Muilleoir said he rejoined the party last week after leaving in 1997 to concentrate on his business interests. [added emphasis]

And

[Mr O Muilleoir] said his decision would mean he would leave his position as interim board member of Northern Ireland Water, which he took up in June.

“I would be unable to do two jobs therefore I expect the chairman will accept my indication to step down,” he said.

“I have enjoyed it very much and feel we have achieved a lot in a short time but I couldn’t continue the work now.”

I’m sure you couldn’t…


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