Mitchel McLaughlin
| Mitchel McLaughlin | |
|---|---|
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| 4th Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly | |
|
In office 12 January 2015 – 12 May 2016 | |
| Deputy |
Robin Newton (2015–2016) John Dallat (2015–2016) Roy Beggs Jr (2015–2016) |
| Preceded by | William Hay |
| Succeeded by | Robin Newton |
| Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly | |
|
In office 15 April 2013 – 12 January 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Francie Molloy |
| Succeeded by | Robin Newton |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim | |
|
In office 7 March 2007 – 30 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Jim Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Declan Kearney |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Foyle | |
|
In office 25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003 | |
| Preceded by | New creation |
| Succeeded by | Martina Anderson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
29 October 1945 Derry, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Spouse(s) | Mary-Lou McLaughlin |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | Mitchel McLaughlin MLA |
John Mitchel McLaughlin (born 29 October 1945) is the former General Secretary of Sinn Féin who also served as an MLA and was once the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
McLaughlin was born in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland and educated at Long Tower Boys School, Derry and Christian Brothers Technical College, Derry.[1]
He was elected a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Foyle in the 1998 assembly election and re-elected in 2003. In March 2007, McLaughlin transferred to the South Antrim constituency where he topped the poll during the 2007 Assembly election.[2] He was re-elected at the 2011 Assembly election.
After it was revealed that a consultancy contract on a new accounting system extended to 10 times the original budget, McLaughlin said, "I am very, very angry and I am very concerned that there appears to be almost a sense of immunity at the senior civil service level when these basic mistakes are made."[3]
The party chairman came in for criticism in 2005 when he said the kidnapping and murder of Jean McConville – one of the Disappeared – was not a criminal act.
He is married and has three sons.
References
- ↑ Northern Ireland Assembly biography, retrieved 2006-12-24
- ↑ BBC News, retrieved 2006-12-24
- ↑ "BBC News - Mitchel McLaughlin critical of civil service 'immunity'". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
External links
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tom Hartley |
Chairperson of Sinn Féin 1996–2005 |
Succeeded by Mary Lou McDonald |
| Preceded by Lucilita Bhreatnach |
General Secretary of Sinn Féin 2003–2007 |
Succeeded by Rita O'Hare |
| Northern Ireland Forum | ||
| New forum | Member for Foyle 1996–1998 |
Forum dissolved |
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
| New assembly | MLA for Foyle 1998–2007 |
Succeeded by Martina Anderson |
| Preceded by Jim Wilson |
MLA for South Antrim 2007–2016 |
Succeeded by Declan Kearney |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by William Hay |
Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly 2015–2016 |
Succeeded by Robin Newton |