Mitchel McLaughlin
4th Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office
12 January 2015 – 12 May 2016
DeputyRobin Newton
(2015–2016)
John Dallat
(2015–2016)
Roy Beggs Jr
(2015–2016)
Preceded byWilliam Hay
Succeeded byRobin Newton
Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office
15 April 2013 – 12 January 2015
Preceded byFrancie Molloy
Succeeded byRobin Newton
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for South Antrim
In office
7 March 2007 – 30 March 2016
Preceded byJim Wilson
Succeeded byDeclan Kearney
Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Foyle
In office
25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byMartina Anderson
Personal details
Born (1945-10-29) 29 October 1945 (age 78)
Derry, Northern Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partySinn Féin
SpouseMary-Lou McLaughlin
Children3
WebsiteMitchel McLaughlin MLA

John Mitchel McLaughlin (born 29 October 1945) is an Irish Sinn Féin former politician who served as Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2015 to 2016, becoming the first Nationalist speaker of the Assembly.

McLaughlin was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for South Antrim from 2007 to 2016. He was previously an MLA for Foyle from 1998 to 2003.

Background

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 killing of Jean McConville – one of the Disappeared – was not a criminal act.

He is married and has three sons.

References

  1. ^ Northern Ireland Assembly biography Archived 20 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 24 December 2006
  2. ^ McLaughlin stands in South Antrim, BBC News, 22 December 2006, retrieved 24 December 2006
  3. ^ "Mitchel McLaughlin critical of civil service 'immunity'". BBC News. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.

External links

Party political offices Preceded byTom Hartley Chairperson of Sinn Féin 1996–2005 Succeeded byMary Lou McDonald Preceded byLucilita Bhreatnach General Secretary of Sinn Féin 2003–2007 Succeeded byRita 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 byMartina Anderson Preceded byJim Wilson MLA for South Antrim 2007–2016 Succeeded byDeclan Kearney Political offices Preceded byWilliam Hay Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly 2015–2016 Succeeded byRobin Newton
Sinn Féin
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