Stormont Assembly pays tribute to DUP MLA Christopher Stalford in special sitting

Warm tributes have been paid from across the political benches at Stormont to DUP politician Christopher Stalford.

Many MLAs spoke of their shock as well as sadness following the sudden death of the 39-year-old father-of-four at the weekend.

DUP MLAs gathered in a circle in the Great Hall at Parliament Buildings for a prayer and moment of silence on Monday morning before entering the chamber for special plenary sitting in Mr Stalford's memory.

The Assembly sat for tributes to Mr Stalford, followed by a minute's silence before business was adjourned for the day.

Speaker Alex Maskey opened the tributes, telling MLAs of a "deep sense of sadness across the political spectrum in Northern Ireland".

"None of us would have ever imagined we would be here today in these circumstances for a member who had so much more to give," he said.

DUP deputy leader Paula Bradley wiped away tears as she paid tribute to Mr Stalford.

She told the Assembly: "Words cannot adequately describe the sense of pain and loss which is felt on these benches for a man that meant so much to so many of us.

"Nothing meant more to Christopher than his family. The pride and joy he felt for them was evident in every conversation he had.

"No-one will feel the loss of Christopher more than his family and I trust and pray that God will draw near to them at this time of unimaginable heartbreak."

Sinn Féin's Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill was not in the chamber - she later tweeted that she was self-isolating at home due to Covid-19.

"Sitting at home (due to Covid) watching the tributes to Christopher Stalford. I'm struck by the shared sense of loss across the political spectrum. I am reminded that there is far more that unites us than divides us. Rest in peace, Christopher," Ms O'Neill tweeted.

In Ms O'Neill's absence, her MLA and ministerial colleague Deirdre Hargey gave the first speech from Sinn Féin.

Ms Hargey told MLAs said sadness had fallen on the chamber.

"No words can describe the shock, anguish, pain they must be feeling now in the loss of their daddy, their husband and their son," she told MLAs.

She said despite the young age of Mr Stalford, members of her party had known him for a long time, stretching back to university debates, adding that she had known him for over a decade from their days as councillors at Belfast City Hall.

"He was a passionate unionist and would be determined in defending his position on the street and in any of the political chambers that he sat," she said.

"Whilst our politics differed, we shared similarities, growing up in working-class communities in south Belfast. He came from Annadale, and I from just across the Lagan in the Market area. Like me, he often spoke with pride of the community that he came from."

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon said it was a very sombre day for the Stormont Assembly, but particularly the DUP.

She recalled Christopher Stalford as "challenging, argumentative, ambitious, combative during debates", but also "kind, quick-witted, fiercely intelligent and very, very funny".

"Christopher Stalford was unique, he loved politics, he loved being a public representative, he enjoyed the cut and thrust of debate more than I would say any other member of this House," she said.

Ms Mallon said the love Mr Stalford had for his family "radiated off him".

"We all feel a sense of loss today but the loss of a young husband and father will be felt most acutely by those he loved the most," she said.

"I hope that they can take comfort from the incredible legacy that Christopher leaves behind, the warmest regard in which his colleagues from every political tradition held him and the real difference he made to so many people's lives."

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said the news of the death of Christopher Stalford had taken his breath away.

Mr Beattie told the Stormont Assembly: "I have no adequate words, I have no words which will quench the anguish of his party colleagues sitting here today.

"I have no words that will help with the pain that his family is dealing with.

"Christopher was unique, he was a fierce debater and he had a cracking wit. He was totally immersed in politics, there was none like him.

"But he was also a father, a husband, a son, and every interaction I ever had with Christopher, that is what came out in spades."

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said Christopher Stalford's family and children were "at the heart of everything he did".

She told the Assembly: "We had very difficult political backgrounds and very different political views, but we had a lot in common.

"We were both fiercely proud of coming from working-class backgrounds, we both had a passion for the communities we grew up in which drove us into politics, and we both believed passionately that education was the route to lift people permanently out of disadvantage.

"Despite the fact that we were opponents, we were also friends."

Mr Stalford was principal deputy speaker at Stormont, having been an MLA since 2016, having served previously as a councillor, high sheriff of Belfast and deputy mayor.

Following news of his sudden death, Prime Minister Boris Johnson Boris Johnson led tributes from across the political spectrum.

"Very saddened to learn of the death of Christopher Stalford MLA, a passionate and dedicated servant of the people of South Belfast,” he said.

"My thoughts are with the Stalford family at this very difficult time."