Racist abuse won't put new Derry mayor off job

Lilian Seenoi-Barr told BBC News NI’s Sunday Politics show that the majority of the people in the area stood with her

A councillor who will become the first black mayor in Northern Ireland has said racist abuse will not put her off taking the role.

Lilian Seenoi-Barr was selected by the SDLP to be the next mayor of Derry and Strabane.

Ms Seenoi-Barr said she had received abuse and death threats since then.

However, she told BBC News NI’s Sunday Politics show that the majority of the people in the area stood with her.

“I think it has actually made me more determined, because we need to be represented, we need a more inclusive and progressive society,” she said.

“It’s not about making history, but it is about delivering for the people and representing the people that elected me.”

Ms Seenoi-Barr said her family “is feeling it more than myself”.

“Since I put myself forward to represent my community, since I came to this country, I’ve been experiencing racism,” she said.

“But obviously it’s beyond what I had been experiencing – the death threats have been extremely hurtful to my family and to myself too.

“But I’m more focused on the positives, I have had enormous support across the island.”

Councillors resign

The SDLP is set to change how it appoints “civil leadership” positions after two councillors resigned over the mayoral selection process.

The Derry City and Strabane District Council representatives quit the party after Ms Seenoi-Barr was selected as its next mayor.

In an internal email, seen by BBC News NI, the SDLP said it will propose an amendment at its next annual general meeting (AGM) to “regularise the process”.

The process surrounding Ms Seenoi-Barr’s selection was criticised by some party members at the time as “undemocratic”.

It resulted in councillors Jason Barr, the current deputy mayor, and Shauna Cusack, who both put themselves forward for the role, resigning from the party.

They will both continue as independents.

Ms Seenoi-Barr, who will succeed Sinn Féin’s Patricia Logue as mayor, said the resignations were disappointing but that she was focused on the way forward.

“There was an open process and all of us engaged in it fully.

“There was a robust interview, very competitive and I was selected.”

She has been a councillor since 2021, when she was co-opted by the SDLP to the Derry and Strabane District Council’s Foyleside ward before she retained her seat in last year’s local elections.

Several Stormont politicians condemned the online racist abuse directed at Ms Seenoi-Barr, including SDLP leader Colum Eastwood.

Speaking on Friday, Mr Eastwood, who is also the Foyle MP, added: “This kind of stuff is allowed to happen actually because politicians do not mind their language.

“I think all of us have to be very careful about that, whether it’s on this island or whether it is in the government in London”.

He said it was important to stand united against racism.

“We will not be led into the gutter by far right activists whether they are coming from America, Dublin or Derry online,” he said.