By Gareth Cross

The DUP have hit out at the new Mayor of Derry over how he addresses them during council meetings.

The claim was made a unionist councillor at a full meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council in the Guildhall.

At Thursday’s meeting, the DUP’s Alderman Drew Thompson raised concerns new Sinn Fein Mayor Maolíosa McHugh's conduct since he took up the position in June.

He said that a number of people had issues with the way the new mayor was conducting himself.

"A number of people here are called Aldermen and you call them councillors," he said.

He asked if the mayor did not want to address councillors by their proper title.

"There have been a number of issues since you came to office, you are not working across the area and you are not bringing in the unionist community

He asked the mayor if he should address him as chair or councillor.

Alderman Thompson said that things needed to be 'clear going forwarded'.

He said that the mayor's behaviour had 'indicated' the mayor's position to 'me and my community and it's not going down very well'.

Mayor McHugh said that he was 'sure every other person would recognise it as a slip of the tongue'.

He said that 'no offence has been meant to you or your community.'

Mayor McHugh told Alderman Thompson he worked for the whole community and said he was 'not sure' what community he was referring too.

He said that he hoped the alderman was 'not losing any sleep over it as I certainly am not'.

Alderman Thompson said he would not lose any sleep over the issue.

Independent councillor Paul Gallagher said he felt the tone of the Mayor had been 'perfectly pleasant' and he didn't think any offence had been caused.

He told council that he felt Alderman Thompson's comments had been 'well out of order'

Alderman Thompson said he 'wouldn't expect any less from Cllr Gallagher'.

The Mayor proceeded to refer to unionist councillors as 'Alderman' for the rest of the meeting.

However, later in the same meeting DUP Alderman Hilary McClintock referred to her party  colleague Alderman David Ramsey as 'councillor' which resulted in laughter across the chamber.

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