Stewart Dickson and Noel Williams lead tributes to former Alliance Leader Sean Neeson

Pictured in 2009, Stewart Dickson and Sean Neeson

Tributes have been paid to Sean Neeson, former leader of the Alliance Party and long-serving MLA for East Antrim, who has passed away peacefully aged 79.

Among the first to honour his memory were Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson and former Mid & East Antrim Mayor Wing Commander Noel Williams, who reflected on Mr Neeson’s decades of public service and lasting impact on the community.

Mr Neeson is survived by his wife Carol, sons Peter and John, daughters Claire and Ciara, and the wider family circle.

A trusted councillor and loyal friend

Stewart Dickson MLA, who began his political journey alongside Mr Neeson, recalled their close working relationship and shared commitment to Carrickfergus.

“Sean and I were elected to Carrickfergus Council together in 1977 and developed a tremendous working relationship,” said Mr Dickson. “Later he was to be Mayor of the town in 1993/94 and during all that time he became the ‘go to’ councillor to get things done.

“To this day people who come into my constituency office still talk about how reliable he and his constituency team were.”

Mr Dickson spoke warmly of Mr Neeson’s deep connection to the region:

“Sean was passionate about our town of Carrickfergus and enjoyed the maritime history associated with it, Larne and the Antrim coastal towns and villages.

“It was not surprising then that he became a member of The Mid & East Antrim Museum Service and represented Northern Ireland on the UK National Historic Ships Committee.”

Earlier years: Sean Neeson

Following Mr Neeson’s retirement from Stormont in 2011, Mr Dickson succeeded him as MLA for East Antrim:

“The transition for me from Councillor to MLA was all the easier given his wise counsel gained over years as the Assembly Deputy Speaker, his work with the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation and being a senior member of the Alliance Party.”

Remembered from boyhood to Borough Hall

Former Alderman and Mid & East Antrim Mayor, Wing Commander Noel Williams, also paid tribute, recalling a lifelong admiration for Mr Neeson.

“Sean and I grew up as boys in Sunnylands estate in Carrickfergus,” said Mr Williams.

“I followed his political career even though I was away from home carving out my own service in the Royal Air Force. I always left my proxy vote with my late mother who was one of the many ‘Sean Fans’ who enabled him to represent and serve the whole community as a then Carrick Castle councillor and later as an MLA.

“Little did I know that one day I would sit next to Sean on Carrickfergus Council and eventually become, like Sean, a Mayor of the Borough. Steeped in the area’s history and having served on a variety of boards, including the Carrickfergus Enterprise Agency, he could always be relied upon to offer splendid and measured advice.”

A statesman and a gentleman

Alliance Party Leader Naomi Long also paid tribute, highlighting Mr Neeson’s significant contribution to politics in Northern Ireland.

“Sean was a huge figure in East Antrim in general but Carrickfergus and Larne in particular; the latter where he was a much respected teacher at St Comgall’s High School between 1982–86,” said Ms Long.

“He was both a statesman and a gentleman who would never flinch from doing the right thing for his constituents and the wider society in Northern Ireland. Moreover, he was a major influencer during the period of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement talks in the late 1990s.

“Our thoughts are with his wife Carol and the wider family.”

Mr Dickson concluded with a heartfelt remark:

“Sean will be sadly missed by the whole community and his many friends across the political divide, but of course most of all by his wife Carol, children Claire, Peter, Ciara and John, their families and wider circle of close friends.

“I, with Noel, have no doubt that it will be some time before we encounter a man of the ilk of Sean Neeson, may he rest in peace.”