Career
Following the death of Raymond McCullough in 1985 Heslip attempted to regain his seat in a by-election but was defeated by McCullough"s daughter Vivienne. Heslip was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly of 1973, serving as Deputy Speaker, and also sat in its successor the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention, in both cases for South Down. By conviction however he supported a return to the Parliament of Northern Ireland.
He also served as Vice-President of the loyalist vigilante group Down Orange Welfare.