Mitchel McLaughlin

John Mitchel McLaughlin (born 29 October 1945) is the former General Secretary of Sinn Féin who also served as an MLA and was formerly the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly. He was the first Nationalist speaker of the Assembly.

Mitchel McLaughlin
4th Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office
12 January 2015 – 12 May 2016
DeputyRobin Newton
(2015–2016)
John Dallat
(2015–2016)
Roy Beggs Jr
(2015–2016)
Preceded byWilliam Hay
Succeeded byRobin Newton
Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office
15 April 2013 – 12 January 2015
Preceded byFrancie Molloy
Succeeded byRobin Newton
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for South Antrim
In office
7 March 2007 – 30 March 2016
Preceded byJim Wilson
Succeeded byDeclan Kearney
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for Foyle
In office
25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003
Preceded byNew creation
Succeeded byMartina Anderson
Personal details
Born (1945-10-29) 29 October 1945
Derry, Northern Ireland
NationalityIrish
Political partySinn Féin
SpouseMary-Lou McLaughlin
Children3
WebsiteMitchel McLaughlin MLA

McLaughlin was born in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland and educated at Long Tower Boys School, Derry and Christian Brothers Technical College, Derry.[1]

He was elected a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Foyle in the 1998 assembly election and re-elected in 2003. In March 2007, McLaughlin transferred to the South Antrim constituency where he topped the poll during the 2007 Assembly election.[2] He was re-elected at the 2011 Assembly election.

After it was revealed that a consultancy contract on a new accounting system extended to 10 times the original budget, McLaughlin said, "I am very, very angry and I am very concerned that there appears to be almost a sense of immunity at the senior civil service level when these basic mistakes are made."[3]

The party chairman came in for criticism in 2005 when he said the kidnapping and killing of Jean McConville – one of the Disappeared – was not a criminal act.

He is married and has three sons.

References
  1. Northern Ireland Assembly biography Archived 20 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 24 December 2006
  2. McLaughlin stands in South Antrim, BBC News, 22 December 2006, retrieved 24 December 2006
  3. "Mitchel McLaughlin critical of civil service 'immunity'". BBC News. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
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