Alban Maginness (born 9 July 1950) is a Northern Irish Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) politician who was a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for Belfast North from 1998 to 2016.[1]
Alban Maginness | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast North | |
| In office 25 June 1998 – 30 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | New Creation |
| Succeeded by | Nichola Mallon |
| 42nd Lord Mayor of Belfast | |
| In office 1997–1998 | |
| Preceded by | Ian Adamson |
| Succeeded by | David Alderdice |
| Member of Belfast City Council | |
| In office 5 May 2005 – 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Martin Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Nichola Mallon |
| Constituency | Oldpark |
| In office 15 May 1985 – 5 May 2005 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Pat Convery |
| Constituency | Castle |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 July 1950 Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland[1] |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Spouse | Carmel Maginness |
| Children | 8 |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast University of Ulster |
| Profession | Barrister |
| Website | http://www.albanmaginness.com |
Early life and education
editMaginness was born in Holywood, County Down. He completed his grammar school education at St. Malachy's College, Belfast. He then attended the University of Ulster and Queen's University of Belfast where he undertook legal training. He was called to the Bar in 1984.[2]
Whilst at university he became involved in the non-violent protests organised by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association.[3] Maginness participated in the famous civil rights march in Derry in 1972 at which British troops killed 14 unarmed civilians.[citation needed] This event, now termed Bloody Sunday, has gone down in Northern Ireland politics as one of the turning points in The Troubles that contributed to the development of the Provisional IRA.
Political career
editMaginness became increasingly involved in politics and became a member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party.[4] He stood unsuccessfully for the party in East Belfast in the 1975 Constitutional Convention election and North Belfast in the 1982 Assembly election.[5]
He has been an elected member of Belfast City Council since 1985 and in 1997 he became the first Catholic politician to hold the position of Lord Mayor of Belfast. In 1998 he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly to represent Belfast North.
He was Chair of the SDLP from 1984 to 1991.
In November 2008 Maginness had his trademark moustache shaved off for the BBC's Children in Need.[6]
Maginness was the SDLP candidate for the 2009 European Election.
Maginness accused the Secretary of State of interning dissident republican Marian Price without trial, saying "We do not support putting people away in prison because of intelligence or because of some political point of view and we are convinced that she has been detained without trial because of that by the secretary of state."[7]
Having served as an MLA for North Belfast from 1998, Maginness decided not to stand for election in 2016.[8] He was replaced by Nichola Mallon.
References
edit- ^ a b "Profile: Alban Maginness". BBC News. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ Purdy, Martina (12 May 2009). "Profile: Alban Maginness". BBC News. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Personal profile". Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ [1] Redefining Northern Nationalism (Lecture in UCD, 2 October 2000
- ^ "East Belfast 1973-82". www.ark.ac.uk.
- ^ "Maginness' hairy moment for charity". BBC News. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "BBC News - Marian Price being interned says SDLP's Alban Maginness". BBC News. BBC News. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ "SDLP's Alban Maginness: I will not contest assembly election in May". BBC News. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
External links
edit- Biography: NI Assembly
- SDLP Councillor Alban Maginness MLA: Official Website
- "2005 SDLP profile". Archived from the original on 25 January 2005. Retrieved 19 January 2007.
- Northern Ireland Assembly | AIMS Portal | Plenary Item Details