Jimmy Spratt: Tributes paid to late ex-DUP MLA Published image captionJimmy Spratt retired from Stormont on health grounds while having cancer treatment in 2015 Tributes have been paid to former DUP assembly member Jimmy Spratt who has died aged 69. He had spoken publicly for many years about his diagnosis with bowel cancer. He was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007 to represent South Belfast. He was also a former chairman of the NI Police Federation. DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster held back tears as she began Thursday's coronavirus press conference with a heartfelt tribute to "a dear friend who... wanted to make devolution work".