Johnston replaces Vesey on Belturbet TC

Former long-serving Belturbet Independent Councillor Raymond Johnston has made a return to the body, having attained the unanimous backing of councillors at Monday night's meeting, to fill the seat vacated by Anthony Vesey, who had tendered his resignation at the previous meeting. Mr. Johnston was proposed and seconded by Independent Cllrs. Seamus Fitzpatrick and Tony Gorby. There were no dissenting voices in the chamber to the nomination of Mr. Johnston and he was to be co-opted onto the council. His virtues were generously extolled by Cllr. Fitzpatrick who revealed that he was now in business for 50 years in Belturbet and opens his butcher shop at 7.30am every morning. He had served on the town council for a number of decades and was highly involved in a number of committees including the Tidy Towns. Cllr. Gorby said Mr. Johnston was a popular councillor and businessman and always had the progress of the town at heart. The chairman, John McDonald, welcomed Mr. Johnston back onto the council and he was sure he would continue his good work in his usual friendly and efficient manner. Cllr. John Scott said that on the Fine Gael side of the house they had decided not to put any nomination forward on this occasion for the vacancy. "I wish Raymond, who is a neighbour of mine the best of luck and no doubt he will continue with the good work he was doing before on the council." Fine Gael's Peggy Gray added that Mr. Johnston had lots of experience and also highlighted his issues in a calm and measured way. Cllr. Paddy Brady described Mr Johnston as "very hard working" and "most obliging". Independent Michael Lee said he was sure Mr. Johnston would bring his usual enlightened insights to debates in the chamber and he wished him well. Fianna Fáil's Elizabeth McDermott, who could not get back for the meeting due to being stranded on the continent as a result of grounded planes, told The Anglo-Celt that she wished Raymond Johnston every success and looked forward to working with him. The Town Manager, Kevin Reilly, also welcomed the return of Raymond Johnston as "a man of great experience". Ray Johnston told The Anglo-Celt on Tuesday morning that he was happy to be asked to serve on Belturbet Town Council again and he feels that he has a role to play together with the other councillors in progressing the town of Belturbet. "I would like to thank all the councillors for their kind remarks in the chamber and now we can all move forward together."