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Billy Leonard (born 13 January 1955) is an Irish republican retired politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for East Londonderry from 2010 to 2011. A former Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) officeholder, he then joined Sinn Féin, but is now an Independent Republican.
Leonard was nominated by Sinn Féin to succeed Francie Brolly on the latter's resignation as the Sinn Féin MLA for East Londonderry, and took office on 7 January 2010." Ex RUC man becomes Sinn Fein MLA", BBC News, 19 November 2009. In November 2010 it was announced that Leonard would not contest the 2011 Assembly election, so that he could devote his time to writing a book, Towards a United Ireland – an uncompleted journey. Sinn Féin MLA Billy Leonard steps aside to write book
Leonard stated that disagreements "over support arrangements for MLAs' wages and expenses" were the reason for his decision to leave Sinn Féin in 2011. How Orange RUC man joined and left Sinn Fein, Belfast Newsletter, 25 July 2012 A 2012 interview published in the Belfast Telegraph quoted Leonard as saying that the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) still have a big say in the running of Sinn Féin. "The tentacles of the army still run throughout it", he said and stated that former republican prisoners still dominate the structures of the party. "IRA still have a big say in Sinn Fein says ex MLA and RUC man", belfasttelegraph.co.uk, 21 June 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
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