Tributes paid to former chief executive and finance officer

Mr McKinley, who died last week, had joined Portadown Borough Council in 1966 in the finance department.

He moved through the department before becoming chief finance officer and then chief executive. He retired in 1996.

He was also a prominent member of Portadown Rotary and Portadown Festival Association.

UUP Alderman Arnold Hatch, who first got to know Mr McKinley when they worked together at WJ Spencer’s said: “He was good at giving advice in a way that didn’t feel you were being lectured.”

Fellow Ulster Unionist Meta Crozier said: “He was always fair and gave good advice.”

The DUP’s Gladys McCullough, who had been a neighbour of Mr McKinley’s in Brownstown Park described him as a gentleman.

George Savage of the UUP said he was a wealth of knowledge and understanding on the rules and regulations of local government.

The SDLP’s Joe Nelson offered his party’s condolences.