Speaker Marks the Death of MLA Jimmy Spratt

The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Mr Alex Maskey MLA, has expressed his sadness at the death of MLA Jimmy Spratt.

Speaker Maskey said, “I was very saddened to hear the news about the passing of Jimmy Spratt.

“Jimmy and I worked together in many different capacities including through our time as constituency colleagues in South Belfast and as members of the Policing Board and the then OFMDFM Committee.

“Despite our obvious opposing political perspectives, I had great respect for Jimmy as we developed a friendship and a strong working relationship. He was a straight talker who would always leave you in no doubt as to where he stood but you could always do business with him and he was committed to making the Assembly work.

“The fact that he spoke so openly about his recent health issues demonstrated that he remained a fighter even when seriously ill and I know many people admired him for that.

“I know I speak for the Assembly in expressing our sympathies to his wife Lynda and his four sons.”

ENDS