Danny O'Connor (politician)
Encyclopedia
Danny O'Connor is a former nationalist
politician
in Northern Ireland
having previously been a member of Larne Borough Council
from 1997 to 2011.
Born in Larne
, O'Connor served in the Ulster Defence Regiment
before being elected to Larne Borough Council, representing the Social Democratic and Labour Party
(SDLP), in 1997. The same year, he stood for the party at the 1997 Westminster election
in East Antrim
, but received only 4.6% of the votes cast.
O'Connor was elected for East Antrim
at the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election
. In 1999, his car was twice petrol-bombed
, while his house and his brother's house were also attacked. He described it as part of a systematic loyalist
campaign against Catholics in Larne.In 2000, he accused then Democratic Unionist Party
councillor Jack McKee
of raising tension in the Catholic Seacourt estate in Larne when McKee blamed republicans for targeting the estates Protestant population. His home was attacked again in 2001, and in 2002, when he blamed the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association
(UDA).
O'Connor stood again in the 2001 general election
, increasing his share of the vote to 7.3%, but lost his Assembly seat at the 2003 election
. In 2004, he fired warning shots when confronted by a group of men. While his mother claimed the group were UDA members, the Government concluded that there was "no evidence" of this.
He fell back to 5.3 percent of the vote at the 2005 general election
. In 2006, he became the first nationalist Mayor of Larne. In 2007
, he stood again for East Antrim, and was again unsuccessful.
In 2007, O'Connor was criticized for referring to a disabled colleague DUP councillor Bobby McKee
as "stumpy" . O'Connor subsequently apologised.
In the local council elections in 2011 standing in the Coast Road area of Larne Borough Council he lost his seat to Sinn Féin
's Oliver McMullan
.
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
having previously been a member of Larne Borough Council
Larne Borough Council
Larne Borough Council is a Local Council in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters is in the town of Larne and the population of the area is nearly 31,000...
from 1997 to 2011.
Born in Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, O'Connor served in the Ulster Defence Regiment
Ulster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
before being elected to Larne Borough Council, representing the Social Democratic and Labour Party
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party is a social-democratic, Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. Its basic party platform advocates Irish reunification, and the further devolution of powers while Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom...
(SDLP), in 1997. The same year, he stood for the party at the 1997 Westminster election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
in East Antrim
East Antrim (UK Parliament constituency)
East Antrim is a Parliamentary Constituency in the House of Commons and also an Assembly constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly. It has voted for Unionist candidates since its re-creation in 1983.-Boundaries:...
, but received only 4.6% of the votes cast.
O'Connor was elected for East Antrim
East Antrim (Assembly constituency)
East Antrim is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Forum in 1996. Since 1998, it has elected members to the current Assembly....
at the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998
-Seats summary:-Details:Although the SDLP won the most first preference votes, the Ulster Unionists won the most seats in the Assembly. This has been attributed to several reasons, including:...
. In 1999, his car was twice petrol-bombed
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
, while his house and his brother's house were also attacked. He described it as part of a systematic loyalist
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
campaign against Catholics in Larne.In 2000, he accused then Democratic Unionist Party
Democratic Unionist Party
The Democratic Unionist Party is the larger of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland. Founded by Ian Paisley and currently led by Peter Robinson, it is currently the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the fourth-largest party in the House of Commons of the...
councillor Jack McKee
Jack McKee
Alderman Jack McKee is a Unionist politician in Larne, Northern Ireland.Until his resignation from the party in 2007, McKee was a Democratic Unionist Party councillor. He is one of the longest serving councillors on Larne Borough Council; like the UUP's Roy Beggs, he has served continuously since...
of raising tension in the Catholic Seacourt estate in Larne when McKee blamed republicans for targeting the estates Protestant population. His home was attacked again in 2001, and in 2002, when he blamed the paramilitary Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
(UDA).
O'Connor stood again in the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
, increasing his share of the vote to 7.3%, but lost his Assembly seat at the 2003 election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003
The second elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which at the time of the elections had been suspended for just over a year, were held on Wednesday 26 November 2003. Six members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from each of Northern Ireland's eighteen Westminster Parliamentary...
. In 2004, he fired warning shots when confronted by a group of men. While his mother claimed the group were UDA members, the Government concluded that there was "no evidence" of this.
He fell back to 5.3 percent of the vote at the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
. In 2006, he became the first nationalist Mayor of Larne. In 2007
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2007
The third elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly were held on 7 March 2007 when 108 new members were elected. The election saw endorsement of the St Andrews Agreement and the two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Féin, along with the Alliance Party, increase their...
, he stood again for East Antrim, and was again unsuccessful.
In 2007, O'Connor was criticized for referring to a disabled colleague DUP councillor Bobby McKee
Bobby McKee
Bobby McKee MBE is a Unionist politician in Larne, Northern Ireland and former member of the Ulster Volunteer Force.McKee is a Democratic Unionist Party councillor and a member of Larne Borough Council since 1989....
as "stumpy" . O'Connor subsequently apologised.
In the local council elections in 2011 standing in the Coast Road area of Larne Borough Council he lost his seat to Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
's Oliver McMullan
Oliver McMullan
Oliver McMullan is an Irish Sinn Féin politician who was elected as an MLA to the Northern Ireland Assembly to represent the East Antrim constituency in May 2011 and elected to Larne Borough Council in the 2011 local elections....
.