Tributes paid to mourned councillor

Tributes paid to mourned councillor

4 January 2012

GLOWING tributes have been paid to Downpatrick SDLP councillor Peter Craig who died last weekend.

The 65 year-old politician — who was elected to Down Council in 1997 and became its chairman six years later — was held in the highest regard and widely respected by political colleagues and opponents alike.

Tributes to Mr. Craig, who was chairman of Saul GAC and ran Saul Youth Club, were led by his close friend, former South Down MP Eddie McGrady, who described him as “totally selfless.”

In an emotional tribute to the former councillor who died during the early hours of New Year’s Day, Mr. McGrady said his former election campaign manager was “like a brother.”

One of the most highly influential figures the SDLP had in South Down, Peter Craig was a close friend of the former MP for three decades and made a major contribution to his various electoral successes at Westminster and Assembly level.

Mr. Craig was also the mastermind behind the SDLP’s Down Council election success over many years with his finest hour coming in May 1989 when he was instrumental in ensuring the party took control of the local authority for the first time when it won an unprecedented 12 seats.

“Peter was someone who was totally selfless,” said Mr. McGrady. “He was committed to serving the community and really enjoyed doing it. He did everything for everybody and also provided advice and guidance for many people in a very private way.

“We rang each other every day in life and we also took advice from one another. Peter was a man of great common practical sense. He was also someone without any prejudices which is a very rare thing to have. Peter had no prejudices against anyone or anything,” the former MP continued.

“Peter was also never duplicitous and he always told it as he saw it, very honestly and in a straight manner.”

Mr. McGrady described the former Downpatrick councillor as “close allay and loyal friend,” explaining his wise counsel and advice had been invaluable to him over the years.

He continued: “Peter managed my various election campaigns and for me it was absolutely vital that he was at my side. You could ask him anything and he gave you the answer.

“We travelled the constituency many times together over the years during elections and we got to know one another as brothers.”

Mr. McGrady said Peter will be “very hard to replace locally” as he had so many commitments in so many areas of service.

The former MP added: “Peter knew every single person in his community from the youngest to the oldest by their first names. They all knew him simply as Peter.

“My thoughts and prayers and those of a great many people over a wide area are with Peter’s wife Angela and the family circle at this sad time. He was a great person whom his family, myself and the whole community will sorely miss. I have lost a very dear friend.”

Mr. Craig’s funeral service was held on Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Church in Saul before he was interred in the adjoining cemetery.