Maolíosa McHugh has announced his departure from the role of MLA for West Tyrone, effective from 1 September. The Sinn Féin representative made the decision to leave his post ahead of the final term of the Northern Ireland Assembly, having previously declared earlier this year that he would not contest the May 2027 election to Stormont.
McHugh has served as the elected representative for West Tyrone at the Assembly since 2019, when he was selected to fill a vacant seat just days after losing his council position in the local elections that year. He was subsequently elected to the Assembly in 2022.
His political career began in 2011 when he was first elected to Derry City and Strabane District Council, representing the Derg ward. When local authorities underwent reorganisation in 2015, he continued his role as a councillor in the newly formed Derry City and Strabane District Council. During his time on the council, he served as mayor from 2017 to 2018, a period in which he attracted attention for declining to meet the then Prince Charles.
In a statement marking his departure, McHugh reflected on his time in public service.
It has been an honour to represent the people of West Tyrone as an MLA and before that as a Councillor in the Derg Ward in Derry City and Strabane Council over this past 15 years,he said.
To my successor I say 'Ádh Mór' (good luck) in the immediate future and in the upcoming elections in May 2027.
McHugh's departure follows a pattern of recent changes in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Sinn Féin colleague Gerry Kelly announced in July 2026 that he would not contest the next Stormont election after serving since 1998, while DUP MLA Gary Middleton resigned from the Assembly citing serious mental health issues in April 2026.
