Election 2017: Dallat '˜gutted' about '˜below the belt' poster

SDLP Assembly candidate John Dallat says he is 'gutted' after a poster with a disparaging remark about him was erected along the main road in Greysteel.

The ‘Journal’, which has chosen not to print a photo of the poster, made the veteran SDLP man aware it had been erected at the junction of Vale Road and Clooney Road.

When asked for comment about the poster an upset Mr. Dallat - who is standing for the SDLP in East Derry - said: “After 39 years, is that really what people think of me? I have never experienced that style of politics in my life and I’ve been in some hard fought elections. I’m gutted.”

When asked if he had a message for whoever erected the poster, he said: “I don’t imagine I have anything to say to them. Thank God my political opponents, by and large, have been decent to me. I have fought 13 elections and I don’t recall anything like this in my life.”

Sinn Fein Assembly candidate, Cathal O’hOisin said the attack on Mr. Dallat was “well below the belt”.

“I think that’s unacceptable to make a personal attack in that manner. We all are pretty thick-skinned, but this type of behaviour cannot be condoned,” said Mr. OhOisin, who added: “We’ve all put ourselves forward for the election in the hope people will pick us on our policies and principles and not on scurrilous peronalised attacks. It is well below the belt.”