Cyclists demand law change over e-bikes
Reverend Ian McIlroy, minister of the Presbyterian High Kirk in Stranraer, has died suddenly in Scotland at the age of 62.
Ian McIlroy was born and brought up in Northern Ireland and was once a member of the Railway Street congregation in Lisburn.
He was a student at Queen’s University in Belfast from 1987 to 1990.
He graduated with BSc Honours in philosophy and psychology.
He then studied for a Bachelor of Divinity at St Andrews University from 1992, and graduated in 1994.
When he decided to become a Presbyterian minister, he carried on his studies at Union College in Belfast under the care of the Presbytery of Dromore.
He later decided to follow his ministry in Scotland, and was ordained by the Presbytery of Wigtown and Stranraer.
He served in the parishes of Kirkmaiden linked with Stoneykirk from 1996 to 2006.
He was then the minister at Kinnaird linked with Longforgan for three years from 2006.
In 2009 he accepted a call to the High Kirk in Stranraer.
The church was founded in 1842 and it celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1992.
The High Kirk in Stranraer is known as “The Church on the Hill with the Community at its Heart”.
It has a wide range of church groups, and holds Sunday services at 11am, with a warm welTHE come to all visitors, including tourists.
The minister’s funeral service is being held next Tuesday in the High Kirk Stranraer at noon, followed by interment at the local Glebe Cemetery.
Reverend McIlroy is survived by his wife Maureen, by his grown-up children Timothy and Lynsey, daughter-in-law Lauren and grandson Lucas.
A Church of Scotland spokeswoman said: “The Reverend McIlroy was well-liked in the community and had pastoral gifts that were much appreciated by his congregation.
“He was involved in a variety of activities such as school chaplaincy and children’s clubs.
“He also did a great deal of very good outreach work for the church and the community.” CYCLISTS using electric bikes have called for a change to legislation in Northern Ireland to bring it into line with the rest of the UK.
It emerged earlier this week that cyclists here using electric bikes have to undergo testing, have insurance and a motorcycle licence.
Legislation around the use of e-bikes was changed in the UK in 1995, however the Northern Ireland Executive never updated the law.
It was also revealed that cyclists are not currently able to register an e-bike in Northern Ireland despite laws in place requiring it do so.
However, a statement from the Department for Infrastructure said the “technical issue” will be resolved and a registration service will be available from Monday.
Avid cyclist Janet Stevenson from Belfast, who has been using an e-bike since April this year following health problems, said that she had stopped cycling in fear of being handed penalty points.
“I have stopped using it as I never had points on my licence and don’t want them for riding my e-bike,” she said.
“The law is ridiculous and it needs addressed and updated so I can start using it again.”