David Hilditch: Former DUP assembly member dies aged 60

david-hilditch:-former-dup-assembly-member-dies-aged-60
David Hilditch: Former DUP assembly member dies aged 60

David Hilditch, a veteran member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, has passed away at the age of 60. Hilditch, who had cancer, was elected to Stormont in 1998 and re-elected six times. He had been one of the last serving MLAs who had been elected to the first assembly post-Good Friday Agreement.

Hilditch’s political career began in 1991 when he was elected to Carrickfergus Borough Council. He served two terms as deputy mayor of the borough and one year as mayor from 1997-98. Both David and his son Stuart Hilditch were heavily involved with their local football club, Carrick Rangers.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson expressed his condolences, saying that Hilditch had a “passion for people and believed in serving others”. “When David retired from the NI Assembly in September, it ended an outstanding 32 years of public service,” Sir Jeffrey added. Lord Morrow, the DUP’s chairman, said Hilditch “leaves a legacy of public service to others which will live long into the future”. Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie described Hilditch as “a committed servant of his community” and independent MLA Claire Sugden referred to him as “a gentleman”.

Hilditch’s passing came two years after his son Stuart passed away in 2019 after being diagnosed with cancer. The former assembly member is survived by his wife and children. Meanwhile, tributes continue to pour in from various colleagues, friends and politicians from across the political spectrum

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More