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Cecil Cousley MBE (February 1932 – 12 October 2020) was a Northern Irish unionist politician who served as Mayor of Ballymoney on three separate occasions, and was a Ballymoney Councillor from 1981 to 2014.

A member of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Cousley was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim from 1982 until 1986.

Background

Cousley was a farmer living near Ballymoney, and an elder at Drumreagh Presbyterian Church.

Cousley was elected to Ballymoney Borough Council in 1981 for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). He was also elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1982 in North Antrim. He held his council seat at each election until he retired in 2015, regularly placing top in the poll. He served as Mayor of Ballymoney in 1988 – 89, 94 – 95 and 2004 – 05, and as Deputy Mayor in 1991 – 92, 2002–03 and 2006 – 07.

In 2007, several sheep were killed on his land, leading to speculation that the Beast of Ballybogey, a phantom cat, was active; the Police Service of Northern Ireland discounted this theory.

References

1. ^ "Tributes paid to former Ballymoney Mayor Cecil Cousley MBE". Tyrone Courier. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
2. Alderman Cecil Cousley Archived 18 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Ballymoney Borough Council
3. Your local DUP Council Representative: Cecil Cousley, Democratic Unionist Party
4. The Local Government Elections 1973–1981: Ballymoney
5. North Antrim 1973–1982
6. Ballymoney Borough Council Elections 1993–2005
7. "Big Cat Not to Blame: Police Archived 23 December 2012 at archive.today", Ballymoney Times, 7 December 2007

• 1932 births
• 2020 deaths
• Members of Ballymoney Borough Council
• Democratic Unionist Party councillors
• Mayors of places in Northern Ireland
• Northern Ireland MPAs 1982–1986
• Farmers from Northern Ireland
• People from Ballymoney