SDLP man Arthur Doherty dies aged 71

Former SDLP Assembly member Arthur Doherty has died aged 71 following a short illness.

Mr Doherty, who retired from his East Derry seat last August to make way for party colleague Michael Coyle, became active in politics through the Catholic civil rights movement.

The former teacher served as mayor of Limavady in 1993 and was on the SDLP executive for many years. In 1998, he won one of six Assembly seats in East Derry after securing 4,606 votes.