Neil Somerville MLA stands down due to stress

Neil Somerville was selected by the party when Mr Elliott was elected to Westminster last June.

He will be replaced in the Assembly before the end of the month.

It was announced two months ago that Mr Somerville had “taken a leave of absence” from his Assembly duties.

A statement issued by the party in late November said he was “off work with stress and wellbeing issues”.

Mr Somerville is a native of Clogher in Co Tyrone and a former member of the Royal Irish Regiment. He was previously co-opted onto Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council representing the Blackwater ward.

Party leader Mike Nesbitt said he was “very sorry it didn’t work out” for Mr Somerville.

“I was highly impressed with him during the course of the canvas that saw Tom Elliott returned as the MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone and I look forward to working with him in the constituency in the future,” he said.

Mr Elliott said: “I am sorry that Neil is standing down. He has always been very helpful to me and others and it is unfortunate that he is unable to continue as an MLA.

“He always has the best interests of Fermanagh and South Tyrone at heart and I hope that we will see him play a full role in his local community in the future.”

Mr Somerville was co-opted as an MLA following a selection process marred by confusion.

A vote counting error resulted in an erroneous result being circulated, leading to three candidates rather than two going forward for a selection interview.

Mr Somerville was deemed to have finished third - behind Rosemary Barton and victims’ campaigner Kenny Donaldson - when the constituency association voting had closed.

However, he noticed a discrepancy when going through the paperwork the morning afterwards and, once the issue was raised, it was then decided that all three would go forward for a final selection meeting.

At the time, Mr Nesbitt said: “I think we’ve all made counting errors in the course of our lives, hopefully not in as embarrassing circumstances as Monday night.”

Mr Donaldson, who topped the initial selection poll, has ruled himself out this time around.

He said: “I am sorry to learn of Neil Somerville’s resignation. I wish him happiness and peace with whatever he does in the future.

“I am deeply privileged to have a role where I work with - and hopefully support - some of the most humble and courageous people within our society.

“I will not be contesting the upcoming selection process and I apologise to those grassroots Ulster Unionists and non-party members from across the community who had encouraged me to do so.”

Lord Morrow, a political rival of Mr Somerville, has said he is “saddened” that ill health is forcing his UUP counterpart to stand down, and offered his best wishes.

The DUP peer added: “I have been made aware that Neil will not be returning to the Assembly for health reasons. I want to extend my very best wishes to him and trust in time his health will recover.”