Cecil Cousley MBE (February 1932 – 12 October 2020[1]) was a Northern Irish unionist politician who served as Mayor of Ballymoney on three separate occasions, and was a Ballymoney Councillor from 1981 to 2014.
A member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Cousley was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim from 1982 until 1986.
Background
Cousley was a farmer[2] living near Ballymoney, and an elder at Drumreagh Presbyterian Church.[3]
Cousley was elected to Ballymoney Borough Council in 1981 for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).[4] He was also elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982 in North Antrim.[5] He held his council seat at each election until he retired in 2015, regularly placing top in the poll.[6][1] He served as Mayor of Ballymoney in 1988 – 89, 94 – 95 and 2004 – 05, and as Deputy Mayor in 1991 – 92, 2002–03 and 2006 – 07.
In 2007, several sheep were killed on his land, leading to speculation that the Beast of Ballybogey, a phantom cat, was active; the Police Service of Northern Ireland discounted this theory.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Tributes paid to former Ballymoney Mayor Cecil Cousley MBE". Tyrone Courier. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ Alderman Cecil Cousley Archived 18 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Ballymoney Borough Council
- ^ Your local DUP Council Representative: Cecil Cousley, Democratic Unionist Party
- ^ The Local Government Elections 1973–1981: Ballymoney
- ^ North Antrim 1973–1982
- ^ Ballymoney Borough Council Elections 1993–2005
- ^ "Big Cat Not to Blame: Police Archived 23 December 2012 at archive.today", Ballymoney Times, 7 December 2007
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