Member's statement: Leon Toase
Member's statement by Mr Andrew McMurray on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew McMurray
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 14 October 2024
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Leon Toase
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4589512
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise to acknowledge the achievement of young Leon Toase, who has become the youngest person to summit the highest peaks in Ireland's 32 counties. At seven years of age, Leon hails from Mayobridge in South Down. It is one thing to go to the honeypots that are the highest peaks in the provinces: Slieve Donard, Lugnaquilla, Mweelrea and Carrauntoohil, but to go to the lesser-known county highest points is quite the achievement. Indeed, I cannot tell you what province Mullaghmeen, Slieve na Calliagh or Carn Clonhugh are in, never mind what county. It is really impressive. Undertaken as a challenge, Leon's hiking soon gathered momentum, and donations for charity began to come in, and commendation must also be given for that. Leon is a pupil of St Colman's in Saval. His classmates, fellow pupils and teachers are all very proud of him. Leon has now stated that his sights are on Everest, and I would not dissuade him of that, although he had best negotiate that with his mother first of all. Much credit must also be given to Leon's father, Andrew, who accompanied him. As any parent will know, the ability to keep children's motivation levels high is no small skill, but giving Leon such an experience — indeed, any parent who gives their child an outdoor adventure time — is something to be encouraged, given the benefits that it entails. I have offered Leon either a trip to Stormont or a session with a map and compass. I think that he is going to go with the map and compass, so he is a wise man. For climbing the highest peaks: maith thú,
chapeau and kudos, wee man.
281 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- Subject area: Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.02 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.02 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Sexism, misogyny, ageism and other equality groups | 0.47 |
| No identity-related subject | 0.39 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.06 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.02 |
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 0.02 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:13 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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