Portrait of Stormont’s first nationalist speaker unveiled

An official portrait of former Stormont Assembly speaker Mitchel McLaughlin has been unveiled at Parliament Buildings in Belfast.

Mr McLaughlin was joined by his family, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and current speaker Edwin Poots as the portrait painted in oil by local artist Catherine Creaney was unveiled.

Sinn Fein’s Mr McLaughlin was the first nationalist speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, holding the post from 2015 to 2016.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony at Stormont, Mr McLaughlin said society was in a better place with the Assembly operating.

He said: “As speaker my maxim was you can’t expect respect for your principles or your interests if you don’t show respect for others.

“My sense of the place we are in now is that it is much more positive.

“There is a working dynamic as opposed to people who are hindering or antagonising colleagues.

“Given the background of conflict in our society over many years, that was a challenge for people to rise above.”

Mr Poots said: “The election of Mr McLaughlin as the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly was one of those moments of history for the institutions and for wider politics in Northern Ireland.

“When he took up the office he became the first nationalist/republican to serve following the retirement of his predecessor William Hay.”

Mr Poots said that at the time the running joke in Stormont was that you had to be from Londonderry to become speaker.

He added: “I can give personal testimony to the authority, impartiality and dignity that he brought to the role.

“Managing the business of the House can bring many challenges to a speaker.

“However, Mitchel McLaughlin conducted business with self-assurance and confidence that ensured that matters were dealt with in a professional and a respectful fashion.”

The portrait of Mr McLaughlin joins those of his predecessors Eileen Bell, Lord Alderdice and Lord Hay, which are on public display in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings.