Paul Berry
Encyclopedia
Paul 'London' Berry is a Northern Ireland
unionist politician.
Berry was born in Craigavon
, County Armagh
, and brought up in Tandragee, where he was educated at local state schools and colleges, following which he was employed in the textile
industry. He joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
at the age of 16, the same age at which he began gospel singing
in churches in the North Armagh
and Banbridge
areas.
With his high profile as a singer, Berry was elected, aged 22, the youngest MLA in the first Northern Ireland Assembly
as a DUP
representative for the Newry and Armagh constituency
in the 1998 election
and was re-elected in the 2003 election
.
He was elected to Armagh City and District Council
in 2001, and re-elected in the 2005 elections.
In the 2005 general election
Berry was the DUP candidate for Newry and Armagh constituency
. Just days before the election, the Sunday World
newspaper claimed that Berry had met a man for a massage
, with whom he had made initial contact via a gay chatroom, in a Belfast
hotel room booked by Berry under a false name
. Berry claimed that he was seeking treatment for a sports injury, and said he was considering legal action against the paper. He was not elected and was the only DUP candidate to experience a fall in their share of the vote in favour of the Ulster Unionist Party
.
Weeks later the DUP who, since 1977 have maintained a Christian fundamentalist stance on gay rights, and launched a campaign known as Save Ulster from Sodomy
, suspended Berry from membership and commenced disciplinary proceedings.
Berry launched a legal challenge but in February 2006 dropped these proceedings and resigned from the party.
An active member of the Orange Order
, Berry was on the traditionalist, fundamentalist wing of the DUP. In the 2007 assembly election
he stood as an Independent candidate, opposed to the DUP policy of implementing the St Andrews Agreement
but failed to be elected.
Berry continues to as a gospel singer, and has released three compilations.
He and his wife Lorna have no children. He now works in Tandragee as a local estate agent.
In 2011 he was elected as an Independent Unionist candidate to Armagh City and District Council
.
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...
unionist politician.
Berry was born in Craigavon
Craigavon
Craigavon is a settlement in north County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It was a planned settlement that was begun in 1965 and named after Northern Ireland's first Prime Minister — James Craig, 1st Viscount Craigavon. It was intended to be a linear city incorporating Lurgan and Portadown, but this plan...
, County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
, and brought up in Tandragee, where he was educated at local state schools and colleges, following which he was employed in the textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
industry. He joined the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP)
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...
at the age of 16, the same age at which he began gospel singing
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
in churches in the North Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
and Banbridge
Banbridge
Banbridge is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Bann and the A1 road. It was named after a bridge built over the Bann in 1712. The town grew as a coaching stop on the road from Belfast to Dublin and thrived from Irish linen manufacturing...
areas.
With his high profile as a singer, Berry was elected, aged 22, the youngest MLA in the first Northern Ireland Assembly
Northern Ireland Assembly
The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature of Northern Ireland. It has power to legislate in a wide range of areas that are not explicitly reserved to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and to appoint the Northern Ireland Executive...
as a DUP
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...
representative for the Newry and Armagh constituency
Newry and Armagh (Assembly constituency)
Newry and Armagh 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....
in the 1998 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:...
and was re-elected in the 2003 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:...
.
He was elected to Armagh City and District Council
Armagh City and District Council
Armagh City and District Council is a district council in County Armagh in Northern Ireland. It includes the city of Armagh, as well as the surrounding area and its population is about 54,000. City status was officially conferred in 1995...
in 2001, and re-elected in the 2005 elections.
In 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....
Berry was the DUP candidate for Newry and Armagh constituency
Newry and Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
Newry and Armagh is a Parliamentary Constituency in the United Kingdom House of Commons.-Boundaries:The seat was created in boundary changes in 1983, as part of an expansion of Northern Ireland's constituencies from 12 to 17, and was predominantly made up from the old Armagh constituency with the...
. Just days before the election, the Sunday World
Sunday World
The Sunday World is an Irish newspaper published by Sunday Newspapers Limited, a division of Independent News and Media. It is the largest selling "popular" newspaper in the Republic of Ireland and is also sold in Northern Ireland .-Origins:The Sunday World was Ireland's first tabloid newspaper...
newspaper claimed that Berry had met a man for a massage
Massage
Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle"...
, with whom he had made initial contact via a gay chatroom, in a Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
hotel room booked by Berry under a false name
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
. Berry claimed that he was seeking treatment for a sports injury, and said he was considering legal action against the paper. He was not elected and was the only DUP candidate to experience a fall in their share of the vote in favour of the Ulster Unionist Party
Ulster Unionist Party
The Ulster Unionist Party – sometimes referred to as the Official Unionist Party or, in a historic sense, simply the Unionist Party – is the more moderate of the two main unionist political parties in Northern Ireland...
.
Weeks later the DUP who, since 1977 have maintained a Christian fundamentalist stance on gay rights, and launched a campaign known as Save Ulster from Sodomy
Save Ulster from Sodomy
Save Ulster from Sodomy was a political campaign launched in 1977 by the Rev. Ian Paisley, MP, then leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and Free Presbyterian Church, to prevent the decriminalisation of homosexual acts in Northern Ireland...
, suspended Berry from membership and commenced disciplinary proceedings.
Berry launched a legal challenge but in February 2006 dropped these proceedings and resigned from the party.
An active member of the Orange Order
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
, Berry was on the traditionalist, fundamentalist wing of the DUP. In the 2007 assembly election
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 as an Independent candidate, opposed to the DUP policy of implementing the St Andrews Agreement
St Andrews Agreement
The St Andrews Agreement was an agreement between the British and Irish Governments and the political parties in relation to the devolution of power to Northern Ireland...
but failed to be elected.
Berry continues to as a gospel singer, and has released three compilations.
He and his wife Lorna have no children. He now works in Tandragee as a local estate agent.
In 2011 he was elected as an Independent Unionist candidate to Armagh City and District Council
Armagh City and District Council
Armagh City and District Council is a district council in County Armagh in Northern Ireland. It includes the city of Armagh, as well as the surrounding area and its population is about 54,000. City status was officially conferred in 1995...
.