@ColinSDLP profile picture
Colin McGrath 🇺🇦 @ColinSDLP

SDLP MLA for South Down. Party Health & Policing Spokesperson. colin.mcgrath@mla.niassembly.gov.uk

Joined April 2010
  • Tweets 7,465
  • Following 1,871
  • Followers 5,678
2,245 Photos and videos
Colin McGrath 🇺🇦 retweeted
Police Service NI
@PoliceServiceNI
Mar 11
Major Investigation Team detectives, investigating the murder of Ellie Flanagan in Enniskillen, have charged a 45-yr-old man with murder & possession of an offensive weapon with intent. He is due to appear before Strabane Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 12th March via video link.
Murder investigation update

ALT Murder investigation update
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🔉Have a read of my platform piece in today’s Mourne Observer, with a question we all need to ask ourselves: is Stormont working for you? Is this Executive making your life any better? Read on for more! #nipolitics
Platform piece in Mourne observer from Colin McGrath MLA posing a question as we enter 2026: is Stormont working for you?

ALT Platform piece in Mourne observer from Colin McGrath MLA posing a question as we enter 2026: is Stormont working for you?

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As a new Assembly term commences, I'm really looking forward to seeing all the Assembly Questions responses that come through...given the amount that remain outstanding! Get those Ministerial pens ready!
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What does it take to fix a road here? Well, we know the length of time but not the money!!! Austerity must be preventing the disclosure of cost! 🚗
The Irish News
@irish_news
Jan 5
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has been accused of shielding her department from “embarrassment” by refusing to reveal the bill for Co Down roadworks that have been in place for more than two years. Read more: tinyurl.com/5n6pb682
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A frankly bizarre response from the Infrastructure Minister. A road has been closed for two years, and we cannot know the cost as it is "commercially sensitive". Though it's a departure from blame British austerity! 🤷‍♂️ @SDLPlive | @SJAMcBride
AQW response from DFI Minister Kimmins to Colin McGrath: AQW 36624 & 36625 22-27 DATE FOR ANSWER: FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER 2025 Colin McGrath MLA (South Down) To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the financial cost, to date, for the roadworks on the B27, outside Shannon Park, Hilltown; and to detail when the roadworks on the B27, outside Shannon Park, Hilltown, will be concluded. ANSWER I recognise the inconvenience caused by the temporary closures of one lane on the B27 Kilkeel Road Hilltown following the land/verge slip caused by the unprecedented weather in November 2023. The requested financial information is considered commercially sensitive. Disclosure of such data could enable others, particularly economic competitors, to identify commercial rates and costs associated with these works, which may potentially undermine the legitimate economic interests of the Department and its contractors. I can confirm that site investigation works were completed in recent days and..

ALT AQW response from DFI Minister Kimmins to Colin McGrath: AQW 36624 & 36625 22-27 DATE FOR ANSWER: FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER 2025 Colin McGrath MLA (South Down) To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the financial cost, to date, for the roadworks on the B27, outside Shannon Park, Hilltown; and to detail when the roadworks on the B27, outside Shannon Park, Hilltown, will be concluded. ANSWER I recognise the inconvenience caused by the temporary closures of one lane on the B27 Kilkeel Road Hilltown following the land/verge slip caused by the unprecedented weather in November 2023. The requested financial information is considered commercially sensitive. Disclosure of such data could enable others, particularly economic competitors, to identify commercial rates and costs associated with these works, which may potentially undermine the legitimate economic interests of the Department and its contractors. I can confirm that site investigation works were completed in recent days and..

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RT @southern_fsu: As we step into 2026, we’re taking a moment to reflect. Take a look at some of the highlights from the past year, includi…
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Ably assisted by a do-nothing, lethargic and head-in-the-sand Executive that prioritises culture rows over delivery!
Belfast Telegraph
@BelTel
30 Dec 2025
The Stormont Assembly’s greatest challenge is the “severe underfunding of public services”, the First Minister has said. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
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32,000 deaths. On waiting lists. If this happened anywhere else, heads would roll. So how is our Executive getting away with it? belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…

Up to 32,000 people die on NI’s healthcare waiting lists over last three years

‘Something has gone fundamentally wrong with health service’: Normalisation of excessive delays for treatment ‘a real scandal’, says SDLP MLA

belfasttelegraph.co.uk
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It was "interesting" to see a shop (nameless) getting into the, well, festive spirit today....of sorts!!!
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Sad to hear that this has happened heartbreaking at any time but especially so at this time of year. Sympathies and condolences to the whole family.
NI Road Policing and Safety@NIRoadPolicing
21 Dec 2025
Sadly, a 93-year-old man has died following a collision in Rathfriland last night, Saturday 20th December. He was Patrick (Patsy) Brady from the Barnmeen area. More: orlo.uk/RCXtf
Appeal for information

ALT Appeal for information
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See, this reads like its people's fault for being sick and, like, they CHOSE to overstay in hospital. Maybe it should read 'Some day our Executive will get their finger out and fix our health service so people can leave hospital when they're ready' 😡😡😡
Belfast News Letter@News_Letter
13 Dec 2025
Health minister warns public of risk of 'staying in hospital longer than you need' amid bed shortage concerns trib.al/xCmn7iB
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We ask our families to walk into healthcare buildings when sick, worried, and hoping for help. Yet the Department’s own report says most of the estate fails statutory standards, and 20% is deemed unacceptable for patient care. This is a disaster waiting to happen. @SDLPlive
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Colin McGrath 🇺🇦 retweeted
Police Newry, Mourne and Down@PSNINMDown
4 Dec 2025
Appeal for information after shot fired at house in Newry. Details here: orlo.uk/GvKd0
Appeal for Information

ALT Appeal for Information
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To stand for election, show your face and make your values known and open to criticism takes guts. It takes courage ➡️
Facebook post from Colin McGrath MLA: To stand for election, show your face and make your values known and open to criticism takes guts. It takes courage. Those who hide behind balaclavas and issue threats on behalf of "the community" with no mandate or accountability is just wrong. If you have an issue with our society, then you challenge it at the ballot box. I stand with every single elected representative on Newry Mourne and Down Council who has put themself forward. We may disagree (vehemently at times) on political issues, but it is never personal, and we never degrade ourselves to making threats. That is the measure of a civilised society.

ALT Facebook post from Colin McGrath MLA: To stand for election, show your face and make your values known and open to criticism takes guts. It takes courage. Those who hide behind balaclavas and issue threats on behalf of "the community" with no mandate or accountability is just wrong. If you have an issue with our society, then you challenge it at the ballot box. I stand with every single elected representative on Newry Mourne and Down Council who has put themself forward. We may disagree (vehemently at times) on political issues, but it is never personal, and we never degrade ourselves to making threats. That is the measure of a civilised society.

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Colin McGrath 🇺🇦 retweeted
The SDLP@SDLPlive
2 Dec 2025
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole says it’s time to bring more power back to Northern Ireland. People here shouldn’t be stuck reacting to decisions made in London. We should be making more of those decisions ourselves.
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Colin McGrath 🇺🇦 retweeted
Police Newry, Mourne and Down@PSNINMDown
2 Dec 2025
We have begun a criminal investigation into threats made to elected representatives in Newry, Mourne and Down. The threats were made by masked and armed men in a video circulating on social media. Read more here: orlo.uk/zRPni
Investigation launched

ALT Investigation launched

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That those with an identified learning disability would be held under Rule 32 so often does cause me some concern. The same question remains unanswered: is there no suitable alternative that meets their needs? Will continue seeking these answers.
Irish news article with headline Prison Chiefs urged to adopt more humane approach to inmates with disabilities. Questions from Colin to Justice Minosger showing those with LD have faced prison punishments almost 200 times in just over a year

ALT Irish news article with headline Prison Chiefs urged to adopt more humane approach to inmates with disabilities. Questions from Colin to Justice Minosger showing those with LD have faced prison punishments almost 200 times in just over a year
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Interesting figures that require further scrutiny. While welcome to see the numbers of graduating doctors remaining in the North increase, clearly more work is needed to retain them and increase further. We need to do better for them. @AlanStout19 @BMA_NI @rcgp_ni @SDLPlive
Aqw response showing the percentage of doctors who graduated in NI and currently practicing in NI. Increase from 43% in 2020 to 68% in 2024

ALT Aqw response showing the percentage of doctors who graduated in NI and currently practicing in NI. Increase from 43% in 2020 to 68% in 2024

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We need a plan for our health service. But the Minister is gambling all his chips on “shift left”. With so much uncertainty (which the Minister details) where does this leave our health staff and patients?
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Colin McGrath 🇺🇦 retweeted
Matthew O'Toole@MatthewOToole2
25 Nov 2025
Our final Opposition Day of the year. With the UK Budget tomorrow following a chaotic run-up, it's time for local Sinn Féin ministers to use the upcoming multi-year Stormont Budget to finally take responsibility back from London rather than simply blame others.
Opposition motion on multi-year Budget

ALT Opposition motion on multi-year Budget

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