RIP Laura Buckley Noonan
Search
06 Sept 2025
Search
06 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
A new MP fought back tears after recalling the death of his parents in a house fire, saying of his election to Parliament: “I hope I made you proud.”
Alex Easton dabbed his eyes and was hugged by fellow MPs after delivering his maiden speech in the House of Commons.
The independent unionist MP, who quit the DUP in 2021, triumphed in North Down at the fourth time of asking.
But his success was tinged with sadness after his mother and father died in January 2023 following a blaze at a property in the Dellmount Park area of Bangor.
Alec and Ann Easton, who were aged in their 80s, were treated for injuries but both died at the scene.
Speaking in the Commons, Mr Easton said their deaths “caused a lot of heartache for me”.
He added: “But what I want to say about my dad is that my dad believed in me, especially in all my four attempts to try to get to Westminster and I finally succeeded.
“So I just want to say to my dad, I hope I made you proud.
“And I want to also say that when you have everything taken away from you like that, it makes you realise just how important your family is, it makes you see everything that you’ve taken for granted throughout your life – such as the health service always being there for you. I do appreciate those people in the health service who tried to help my mum and dad.
“Also the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland), who tried to help me – I so much appreciate you.
“And I also want to pay tribute to the Northern Ireland fire service who did everything in their power to help my mum and dad.
“I just want to let you know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for my family and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.”
Labour MP Chris Webb (Blackpool South), who followed Mr Easton, said: “I know I speak for the whole House when I say to the Member for North Down, your parents and I know your father will definitely be proud of you today and the work I’m sure you’ll do in this House.
“You should take that with you in every step in this place. They will be and are proud of you.”
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
