Mervyn served as Alliance Councillor for the Pottinger Ward on Belfast City Council from 1985 until 2001, and then for the Victoria Ward (now Ormiston) from 2005 until present. He also served as Party Treasurer.
Mrs Long said she had been left profoundly sad by the Alliance Councillor’s passing.
“Mervyn was an esteemed colleague and friend to all of us in Alliance, and we have all been left profoundly sad by this news. He truly loved the party and working for the public, and his quiet, yet diligent work behind the scenes was of immeasurable assistance to Alliance.
“His political work is well known, working as Alliance Chief Whip on the Council during some of the most turbulent periods in City Hall. His political acumen was a huge asset to both Alliance and the City Hall team more widely.
“Mervyn was completely dedicated to his three sons and was never happier than when following his beloved Glentoran, Sunderland and Northern Ireland football teams. He will be hugely missed by all of us, not only for his commitment to Alliance and the support and political advice which he offered, but for his dry wit and humour which often livened up long meetings.
“On behalf of Alliance, I have expressed our deepest sympathies to Dawn, Mervyn’s sons Graham, Timothy and Iain, his brothers Trevor, Barry and Keith, and the Jones family circle.”