![]() |
Kieran McCarthy | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Strangford | |
In office 25 June 1998 –30 March 2016 | |
Preceded by | New Creation |
Succeeded by | Kellie Armstrong |
Member of Ards Borough Council | |
In office 15 May 1985 –22 May 2014 | |
Preceded by | District created |
Succeeded by | Council abolished |
Constituency | Ards Peninsula |
Northern Ireland Forum Member for Strangford | |
In office 30 May 1996 –25 April 1998 | |
Preceded by | Forum created |
Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
Personal details | |
Born | Newtownards,Northern Ireland | 9 September 1942
Political party | Alliance |
Spouse | Kathleen McCarthy |
Kieran McCarthy (born 9 September 1942) is a retired Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) politician. From 1998 to 2016 he was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Strangford. He served as Assembly chief whip for APNI in the Assembly. [1]
McCarthy was born in Newtownards and worked as a draper. In 1985 he was first elected to Ards Borough Council. In 1990 he became a Justice of the Peace. He was then elected to the Northern Ireland Peace Forum in 1996 from Strangford and has subsequently won a Northern Ireland Assembly seat there in all three elections to that body. In the 2007 elections his seat was targeted by the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), [2] but he won easily with a significantly increased vote.
He has stated his appreciation for the Good Friday Agreement on a number of occasions but believes a more party-aligned/devolved agreement would work more effectively.
McCarthy has stated his strong dislike for Direct Rule,causing a major democratic deficit,and in particular,was against the supposedly aggressive style of governing from the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,Peter Hain.