Robert Dodd McConnell, known as Bertie McConnell (27 March 1921 – 28 May 1994[1]) was an Army officer and politician in Northern Ireland.

McConnell was born in Bangor, County Down, and served in the British Army in World War II. Entering the Officer Training Corps in 1940 after dropping out from Queen's College, he was commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps in 1941 as a Second Lieutenant. During the war, he lost sight in one eye and was discharged as a captain in March 1945.[2]

In 1958, McConnell was elected to Bangor Borough Council, serving until 1973. He was elected at the 1969 Northern Ireland general election, as an independent Unionist Member of Parliament for Bangor. Despite being an independent, he was a supporter of Ulster Unionist Party Prime Minister Terence O'Neill.[2]

McConnell joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland alongside Phelim O'Neill and Tom Gormley in early 1972. He was elected to North Down Borough Council in 1973, and to the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Down. He held this seat on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention in 1975, and served as the President of the Alliance Party in 1976.[2]

McConnell stood down from his council seat in 1981[3] and took no further role in active politics.

References

  1. ^ Lynn, Brendan. "McConnell, Robert Dodd". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Biographies of Members of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
  3. ^ The Local Government Elections 1973–1981: North Down
Parliament of Northern Ireland New constituency Member of Parliament for Bangor 1969–1973 Parliament abolished Northern Ireland Assembly (1973) New assembly Assembly Member for North Down 1973–1974 Assembly abolished Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention New convention Member for North Down 1975–1976 Convention dissolved Party political offices Preceded byJoseph Magowan President of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland 1976 Succeeded by?
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