Alliance MLA to step down less than a year after election

An Alliance Party MLA who was elected to the Assembly last year has announced she is to step down from the role.

Patricia O’Lynn will resign as an MLA on March 31 in order to take up a new role with Queen’s University in Belfast.

The 33-year-old was elected as North Antrim MLA in last May’s Assembly Election and previously served as councillor for Ballymena from May 2019.

The powersharing institutions at Stormont have not functioned since last year’s election because of the DUP protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

“It has been an honour to serve the people of North Antrim as their MLA and previously the people of Ballymena as a councillor,” Ms O’Lynn said.

“My only regret is I was not able to do so in the Assembly chamber itself due to the ongoing impasse, which has proved frustrating.

“Nevertheless, it has been a privilege and I will continue representing my constituents fully while I remain in the role.

“I thank every person who voted for me and for Alliance locally in previous years and assure them they will continue to be represented by my successor.

“I wish to pay tribute to my Alliance colleagues, party members and also my staff, who have worked hard for people right across the constituency.

“There is an exciting amount of talent emerging through the North Antrim Alliance Association, which continues to grow in numbers.

“The party continues to have my full support and I look forward to supporting whoever succeeds me as MLA.

“The people of North Antrim proved last May they want to see Alliance’s positive message of inclusion and I am confident that will continue.”

Alliance Leader Naomi Long MLA said while she was sad to see Ms O’Lynn leave the job, she had served constituents well.

She added: “I am very sorry to see Patricia, who is both a colleague and a friend, leave her role as MLA.

“It is a huge loss not only to the party and the Assembly but especially for the people of North Antrim, who have lost a fearless and passionate representative on the issues that matter to them.

“It is undoubtedly a difficult and uncertain time for many in politics due to the ongoing impasse.

“Patricia will be hugely missed but I am confident Alliance will continue to build on its recent superb results across North Antrim and on the sterling work Patricia has carried out as an advocate for a united community there.

“On behalf of myself and the entire Alliance team, I wish her every success and happiness in her new role.”

Ms O’Lynn secured her party’s first ever seat in North Antrim at last year’s Assembly elections at the expense of DUP veteran Mervyn Storey.

She was considered one of the rising stars in the centre-ground party which made significant gains in the election, increasing its seat count by nine to 17, becoming the third largest party at Stormont behind Sinn Fein and the DUP.

The party will now be able to co-opt a new MLA as replacement.