Alliance Party selects Andrew McMurray as new South Down MLA

Patrick Brown with Andrew McMurray at an election count in 2022

Andrew McMurray has been selected by the Alliance Party to become a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA).

He replaces Patrick Brown, who unexpectedly stood down from his position in South Down last week.

Alliance said Mr Brown was stepping down for "personal reasons", but it later emerged he had been facing an investigation from a standards watchdog.

Mr Brown said the investigation "had no bearing" on his reasons for resigning.

Mr McMurray, from Castlewellan, is an Alliance Party councillor for the Slieve Croob area of Newry, Mourne and Down council.

He works as an outdoor pursuits instructor at the Shannaghmore Outdoor Learning Centre near Newcastle in County Down, according to his council register of interests.

His selection as a new MLA for the South Down constituency was confirmed by the Electoral Office for Northern Ireland.

It was announced last Tuesday that Mr Brown was stepping down with immediate effect for "personal reasons".

An Alliance spokesperson thanked Mr Brown for his service and wished him "well in his future endeavours".

Mr Brown said he was "proud" of his track record and remained "committed to Alliance values".

"This May, I will have been an elected representative for 10 years and feel the time is right to step aside for personal reasons," he said.

BBC News NI understands that Stormont's standards commissioner had been investigating a complaint into Mr Brown's conduct towards an integrated school.

Mr Brown and Alliance were approached for comment but they did not respond.

But in a post on Facebook, Mr Brown said the investigation "had no bearing on my reasons for resigning".

He said he had recently accepted a new job offer and the "pressures of being in full-time politics" impacted his mental well-being, contributing to his decision.