Councillor donates £4,000 expenses to Derry charities

An independent Derry councillor has donated £4,000 in expenses to two local charities after pledging the funds to them during last year’s local government elections. 

Under the new Derry City and Strabane District Council, elected members will be given around £14,200 for their annual expenses, compared to the £9,500 councillors were previously given.

However, the independent councillor Dee Quigley has now handed over the increase to two local charities.

The drugs and alcohol counselling service HURT (Have Your Tomorrows) received £2,000, while Foyle Search and Rescue were also given £2,000 by Cllr Quigley.

Commenting, Cllr Quigley said he was more than happy to donate the money to ‘such worthy causes’.

“These are two charities which are very close to my heart, and they deserve all the money they receive for the great work that they do,” he said.

“During the elections last year, I made a pledge that I would hand over the increase in money given to councillors to charity, and I’m more than happy to do that.”

  Above - Councillor Quigley pictured presenting a cheque for £2,000 to Michael Wilson and Christina McCallion of Foyle Search and Rescue.