By Violet Brown
TRIBUTES have been paid to former councillor Stephen Cooper following his sudden death at his Comber home last week.
Mr Cooper was elected onto Ards and North Down Council, representing the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), in 2014 to represent the Comber district electoral area.
He stood for the TUV in Strangford in the Assembly elections of 2016, 2017 and finally in 2022 when he came close to being elected as an MLA.
Mr Cooper resigned from the party in February 2023 and remained on the council as an independent until the local government elections in May of that year.
TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister said he was shocked to learn of the ‘sudden and untimely passing’ of Mr Cooper.
“Stephen was a man of real ability who served his country both in the armed forces and politics,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers – and indeed those of the wider TUV family – are with his loved ones as they come to terms with the tragic news.”
The leader of the DUP grouping on the local council, alderman Stephen McIlveen, said he had worked closely with Mr Cooper on a number of issues of joint concern during his time on council.
“After he left council, he retained his deep interest in local politics and he would have popped into the office for a chat or we’d exchange messages on what was happening,” Mr McIlveen continued. “What you saw with Stephen was exactly what you got – he will be greatly missed by those who knew him, including me.”
UUP councillor Pete Wray said the first time he had been in the council chamber was in 2015 when he was part of a deputation for Alternatives Restorative Justice.
“That night after the presentation two men, Stephen Cooper and Jimmy Menagh, followed me out the door and wanted to know how they could help,” he said. “Both did help me, and sadly both are now gone.”
Newtownards Independent councillor Steven Irvine recalled how he had first met Mr Cooper on the football pitch many years ago.
“I never imagined then how important he would become in my life,” he said.
When Mr Cooper was elected as a councillor, Mr Irvine advised he started following his work closely alongside his friend the late alderman Jimmy Menagh.
“Jimmy spoke so highly of Stephen – which was rare for a man who didn’t suffer fools and always called a spade a spade,” he said. “That admiration alone told you everything about Stephen’s character.”
After Mr Menagh’s death in 2022 Mr Irvine took up his seat on council. “Stephen took me under his wing – he guided me, advised me and treated me as a friend”, he said. “I’ll always be deeply grateful for that.”
Former North Down MLA, Lord Weir of Ballyholme described Mr Cooper as ‘a staunch unionist’ and ‘a dedicated public representative’.
Mr Cooper is survived by his mother Eileen, father Jim and sister Karen.
His funeral service took place , Wednesday, November 26 in First Comber Presbyterian Church followed by committal in Comber Cemetery.
