Two DUP councillors step down in setback for party

Two DUP councillors step down in setback for party

21 December 2022

THE DUP has suffered a major blow in Rowallane with two of its sitting councillors leaving the party.

Kathryn Owen and Yvonne Moore have both left ahead of next May’s local government elections in what is being viewed as a significant setback to the party. 

Earlier this year, Billy Walker resigned his Rowallane seat after being charged with attempted sexual communication with a child and was replaced with Ms Moore who has now also resigned.

It is understood Ms Moore — who is not making any public comment —  resigned after she failed to secure the party’s nomination to defend her seat at a recent selection meeting organised by the DUP’s Strangford Association.

The Down Recorder understands that the DUP has already chosen who will succeed Mrs Owen and Ms Moore and are likely to confirm their identifies shortly. 

Both are believed to be young men and are particularly well known in the Crossgar area, with one well known for his work in the community.

Mrs Owen confirmed on social media at the weekend that she was leaving due to a “change in her full-time employment which will prevent her from being a councillor”.

Mrs Owen, whose grandfather, William Biggerstaff, was a former Ulster Unionist councillor on the former Down Council, was one of two DUP representatives who quit the party when Edwin Poots became leader.

The former RAF medic and Glyn Hanna, father of South Down MLA Diane Forsythe, left the DUP in June 2021, voicing concerns about the direction the party was taking under the former Agriculture Minister’s leadership.

Mrs Owen, who recently secured a PhD in cardiology and worked on a Covid ward at Craigavon Area Hospital at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, said it had been her ”privilege to serve the good people of Rowallane.”

She added: “Growing up in Rowallane and following in my grandfather’s footsteps made this a huge honour.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has thanked Mrs Owen for “her service in Rowallane and her efforts to help constituents”.