Oliver Gibson
Encyclopedia
Oliver Gibson is a founding member of the Democratic Unionist Party
(DUP).
Gibson is a retired DUP councillor for West Tyrone. He also served as an MLA
for West Tyrone in the first session of the Assembly. He is a former teacher and was an officer in the UDR
.
His niece Esther Gibson was one of the 29 victims killed in the 1998 Omagh bombing
.
In 1999, David Jordan, a former Ulster Defence Regiment
soldier, broke down in a bar and claimed to be part of a patrol that killed nationalist councillor Patsy Kelly in 1974. Jordan also implicated Gibson in the murder. Jordan was never formally questioned in relation to the matter and no charges have been brought against Gibson.
In 2003, it emerged that Gibson was having an affair with his 35 year-old secretary Audrey McKenzie and was living with her in Ballybogy
, County Antrim. His wife confirmed that he had left her and was no longer living in their Sixmilecross
home. He retired as a councillor in Omagh District Council
shortly afterwards.
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...
(DUP).
Gibson is a retired DUP councillor for West Tyrone. He also served as an MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
for West Tyrone in the first session of the Assembly. He is a former teacher and was an officer in the UDR
UDR
UDR may refer to:*Ulster Defence Regiment*União Democrática Ruralista , a Brazilian right-wing association of farmers*Union des Démocrates pour la République, French political party*Union for Democracy and the Republic , Chadian political party...
.
His niece Esther Gibson was one of the 29 victims killed in the 1998 Omagh bombing
Omagh bombing
The Omagh bombing was a car bomb attack carried out by the Real Irish Republican Army , a splinter group of former Provisional Irish Republican Army members opposed to the Good Friday Agreement, on Saturday 15 August 1998, in Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Twenty-nine people died as a...
.
In 1999, David Jordan, a former 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...
soldier, broke down in a bar and claimed to be part of a patrol that killed nationalist councillor Patsy Kelly in 1974. Jordan also implicated Gibson in the murder. Jordan was never formally questioned in relation to the matter and no charges have been brought against Gibson.
In 2003, it emerged that Gibson was having an affair with his 35 year-old secretary Audrey McKenzie and was living with her in Ballybogy
Ballybogy
Ballybogy or Ballybogey is a small village and townland in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is located 6km north of Ballymoney and 6km east of Coleraine. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 258 people. It lies within the Borough of Ballymoney....
, County Antrim. His wife confirmed that he had left her and was no longer living in their Sixmilecross
Sixmilecross
Sixmilecross is a small village in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Its toponym is said to be derived from a Celtic cross that stood in a field at the top of the village and also from its distance of six Irish miles from Omagh. The village has a wide, tree lined main street and a population of 282...
home. He retired as a councillor in Omagh District Council
Omagh District Council
Omagh District Council is a local council in County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. Its headquarters is in the town of Omagh, which is the traditional county town of Tyrone. The council area is about , making it the second largest local council area in Northern Ireland with a population of just over...
shortly afterwards.