Statement of sympathy from the Mayor, Councillor Alan Givan

April 23, 2020

The Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Alan Givan speaking about Charlie Poots, said: “It was my privilege to have known Charlie Poots for many years and I always found him to be a true gentleman. His love of the land and his commitment to serving the rural and wider communities continued throughout his 30 year distinguished career as an elected member and an MLA, always the ambassador for Lisburn.  This was why he was granted the Freedom of Lisburn City in 2010.

“On behalf of the council, I would like to convey deepest sympathies to his children Edwin, Angela and Joy and their wider family circle at this time including my fellow councillor Caleb McCready, one of his grandchildren.

“When serving as Deputy Mayor of Lisburn Borough Council in 1991-1993 he worked with groups across the area to enhance the quality of life of residents. He played a key role in the introduction of the wheelie bin system in Lisburn in 1987 and in 1988 played a role in their roll out across the borough.  He would be proud to know that our waste collection service is still a success and is welcomed by our residents during this unprecedented time.

“Alderman Poots was a great campaigner for many environmental improvements, which would enhance the environment of citizens of the borough at a very difficult time in Northern Ireland History. The council became an early advocate of the Ulster in Bloom initiative and Moira represented the United Kingdom in the Entente Floral (best in Europe) achieving third place overall.

“Charlie retired from the political life in 1993 due to ill health after working hard through turbulent times to make a difference to people’s lives; and he did not let the murder attempt on his life change his principles of faith, compassion, commitment, determination and loyalty.

“It is sad that someone we all knew well passed so quickly in the end.  Charlie was a real family man and as a religious man, he will now have joined his late wife Ethel and his eldest son Stephen.  His family remain in the thoughts and prayers of both council staff and elected members,” he concluded.