WEST Belfast MLA Aisling Reilly has announced that she will not stand in the May 2027 Assembly election.
In 2021 Ms Reilly was co-opted into the Assembly to replace Fra McCann as a Sinn Féin MLA. In 2022 she contested her first election and was returned along with three other Sinn Féin candidates as MLAs for West Belfast. In 2024 she became a Junior Minister in the Stormont Executive.
Speaking today she said it was an "absolute honour of my life to serve as MLA for West Belfast".
The former World Handball champion added: "In the period ahead, I will be going into hospital to undergo a hip operation. Many years of playing sport at a demanding level representing my club, county and country has taken its toll.
"After the operation I will need a significant amount of time to recover and recuperate.
"I want to ensure that Sinn Féin has the best chance of winning the maximum number of seats in the Assembly election, which is why I have decided to announce now that I will not be putting my name forward for selection to stand in West Belfast in the Assembly election.
"This election is absolutely crucial for the future of Ireland.
"My constituency office will remain open to deliver a full service to the local community and as soon as possible, I will be back out doing everything I can to ensure that Sinn Féin’s West Belfast candidates are successful in the election."
