Detta O'Cathain, Baroness O'Cathain
Encyclopedia
Detta O'Cathain, Baroness O'Cathain, OBE
(b. 2 February 1938, Laurel Hill
, County Limerick
) is an Irish
-born British
businesswoman and politician. She has been a director of many companies, including Midland Bank
plc, Tesco
plc, British Airways
plc, BNP/Paribas (UK) and Allders
.
Born to Caoimhín and Margaret (née Prior) O'Cathain, she was educated at Laurel Hill Convent
in her native County Limerick
before pursuing higher education and emigrating to England.
She was made a life peer
as Baroness O'Cathain, of The Barbican in the City of London
in 1991 and sits in the House of Lords
on the Conservative
benches. She made many appearances on Question Time
on BBC in the 1980s. She is known for her socially conservative views, in particular her efforts to retain the ban on same-sex couples from adopting, and has taken on a leadership role in the movement which stands up for Christian values after the death of Lady Young.
In 2004, Lady O'Cathain denied that her decision to step down from the board of British Airways
was connected with a threatened boycott of the airline by gay rights group Stonewall
. Gay rights supporters took exception to what was described as her attempted "wrecking" amendment of the civil partnerships bill. She responded that her amendment was "nothing to do with homosexuals at all." In 2009, she proposed a law criminalising the possession of "extreme pornographic writings", similar to the recently passed law on images
.
Lady O'Cathain's surname is pronounced oh ka-HOYN.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(b. 2 February 1938, Laurel Hill
Laurel Hill
Laurel Hill may refer to the following:In Australia*Laurel Hill, New South Wales, a town in the Riverina regionIn Ireland*Laurel Hill Coláiste, a school in Limerick, IrelandIn the United States*Laurel Hill, Florida, a city in Okaloosa County...
, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
) is an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businesswoman and politician. She has been a director of many companies, including Midland Bank
Midland Bank
Midland Bank Plc was one of the Big Four banking groups in the United Kingdom for most of the 20th century. It is now part of HSBC. The bank was founded as the Birmingham and Midland Bank in Union Street, Birmingham, England in August 1836...
plc, Tesco
Tesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
plc, British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
plc, BNP/Paribas (UK) and Allders
Allders
Allders is an independent department store in Croydon, established by Joshua Allder in 1862. It is the fourth-largest department store in the United Kingdom.The Croydon store was the flagship of a large chain of department stores in the UK...
.
Born to Caoimhín and Margaret (née Prior) O'Cathain, she was educated at Laurel Hill Convent
Laurel Hill
Laurel Hill may refer to the following:In Australia*Laurel Hill, New South Wales, a town in the Riverina regionIn Ireland*Laurel Hill Coláiste, a school in Limerick, IrelandIn the United States*Laurel Hill, Florida, a city in Okaloosa County...
in her native County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
before pursuing higher education and emigrating to England.
She was made a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
as Baroness O'Cathain, of The Barbican in the City of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1991 and sits in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
on the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
benches. She made many appearances on Question Time
Question Time
Question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers , which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances...
on BBC in the 1980s. She is known for her socially conservative views, in particular her efforts to retain the ban on same-sex couples from adopting, and has taken on a leadership role in the movement which stands up for Christian values after the death of Lady Young.
In 2004, Lady O'Cathain denied that her decision to step down from the board of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
was connected with a threatened boycott of the airline by gay rights group Stonewall
Stonewall
The word Stonewall may refer to* a stone wall* a verb meaning "to refuse to cooperate, especially in supplying information" -Games and entertainment:* "Stonewall structure" of pawns in the chess opening theory:** Stonewall Attack...
. Gay rights supporters took exception to what was described as her attempted "wrecking" amendment of the civil partnerships bill. She responded that her amendment was "nothing to do with homosexuals at all." In 2009, she proposed a law criminalising the possession of "extreme pornographic writings", similar to the recently passed law on images
Extreme pornography
Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 is a piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that criminalises possession of what it refers to as "extreme pornographic images". The law was enacted from 26 January 2009...
.
Lady O'Cathain's surname is pronounced oh ka-HOYN.