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Date Posted: 12:08:00 01/21/04 Wed
Author: External affairs
Subject: University Ulster Bill Leonard diversity conflict management

I have no regrets: Sinn Fein recruit

Belfast Telegraph

By Kim Kelly

newsdesk@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

20 January 2004
RUC officer turned Sinn Fein politician Dr Billy Leonard will tonight face his former SDLP colleagues, who are accusing him of treachery after his shock defection, at a meeting of Coleraine Council.

And while his former party colleagues say they are "saddened" by his defection, Coleraine unionist councillors are demanding the resignation of the politician who they say "represents a party which are nothing more than apologists for the republican terrorists who bombed Coleraine 10 years ago."

However, speaking today, Dr Leonard said he has no regrets about his decision to join Sinn Fein and confirmed that he has now resigned his position as a Coleraine DPP member.

"I will not be listening to demands from unionist councillors. You cannot stop political progress with those kinds of threats," said Dr Leonard.

"In the future I would be happy to sit on a policing partnership once again as it is our ultimate aim to be involved under the right circumstances.

"Sinn Fein party leaders are aware of my past as an RUC reservist and have no problem with it.

"For me it is business as usual and I will continue to work for all members of the constituency."

Dr Leonard, who now works for the University of Ulster, is the first Sinn Fein councillor to hold a seat on the traditionally unionist Coleraine Council.

As a Protestant who was a former Seventh Day Adventist minister, Dr Leonard's decision to change parties has come as a shock to many of his constituents.

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