MP fights back tears as he recalls death of parents in first Parliament speech

MP fights back tears delivering first speech in ParliamentSource: PA, Parliament TV

Transcript

00:00Finally, I want to raise about my parents. My mum and dad were killed in a fire last

00:10year in Vangar in their home, and to say that caused a lot of heartache for me, it did.

00:19But what I want to say about my dad is that my dad believed in me, especially in all my

00:27four attempts to try to get to Westminster, and I finally succeeded. So I just want to

00:33say to my dad, I hope I made you proud. And I want to also say that when you have everything

00:44taken away from you like that, it makes you realise just how much important your family

00:49is. It makes you see everything that you've taken for granted throughout your life, such

00:56as the health service always being there for you, and I do appreciate those people

01:00in the health service that try to help my mum and dad. Also the PS&I who try to help

01:05me, our police service, I so much appreciate you. And I also want to pay tribute to the

01:11Northern Ireland Fire Service, who did everything in their power to help my mum and dad, and

01:17I just want to let you know that I appreciate everything that you've done for my family,

01:22I mean that from the bottom of my heart.