Douglas Hutchinson
Encyclopedia
Douglas Hutchinson was a unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
Born in Richhill, County Armagh
, Hutchinson worked as a fruit farmer
. In 1953, he succeeded his father as an Ulster Unionist Party
(UUP) member of Armagh Rural District Council, holding his seat until its abolition in 1973. He was also active in Ian Paisley
's Ulster Protestant Action
, and was prominent in the paramilitary Ulster Protestant Volunteers
. He served in the Ulster Special Constabulary
, but left after being sentenced to one month's imprisonment for disrupting a civil rights
march in Armagh
in November 1968.
Hutchinson resigned from the UUP in October 1969, stating that he disagreed with their policy of compromise. Around this time, he was expelled from the Orange Order and from the Royal Black Preceptory
for protesting against what he saw as support for appeasement among some of their leadership. In 1971, he was sentenced to six months in prison for taking part in a banned parade in Dungiven
although, on appeal, this was commuted to a £60 fine.
Hutchinson stood for the Democratic Unionist Party
in Armagh
at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
, becoming the last candidate elected. He was also elected to Armagh District Council at the 1973 local election
. He was elected to the 1975 Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
with an increased vote, but failed to take a seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982. He held his council seat until his retirement in 1993
, when he was succeeded by his son, Brian.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in Northern Ireland
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...
.
Born in Richhill, County Armagh
Richhill, County Armagh
Richhill is a large village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is in the townland of Legacorry , roughly halfway between Armagh and Portadown...
, Hutchinson worked as a fruit farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
. In 1953, he succeeded his father as an 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...
(UUP) member of Armagh Rural District Council, holding his seat until its abolition in 1973. He was also active in Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
's Ulster Protestant Action
Ulster Protestant Action
Ulster Protestant Action was an loyalist and Protestant fundamentalist vigilante group in Northern Ireland.The group was founded at a special meeting at the Ulster Unionist Party's offices in Glengall Street, Belfast, in 1956. Among the attendees were many loyalists who were to become major...
, and was prominent in the paramilitary Ulster Protestant Volunteers
Ulster Protestant Volunteers
The Ulster Protestant Volunteers were a loyalist and fundamentalist Christian paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. They were active between 1966 and 1969 and closely linked to the Ulster Constitution Defence Committee , established by Ian Paisley in 1966.The UPV launched a bombing campaign to...
. He served in the Ulster Special Constabulary
Ulster Special Constabulary
The Ulster Special Constabulary was a reserve police force in Northern Ireland. It was set up in October 1920, shortly before the founding of Northern Ireland. It was an armed corps, organised partially on military lines and called out in times of emergency, such as war or insurgency...
, but left after being sentenced to one month's imprisonment for disrupting a civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
march in Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
in November 1968.
Hutchinson resigned from the UUP in October 1969, stating that he disagreed with their policy of compromise. Around this time, he was expelled from the Orange Order and from the Royal Black Preceptory
Royal Black Preceptory
The Royal Black Institution, also known as the Royal Black Preceptory or The Imperial Grand Black Chapter Of The British Commonwealth or simply as the Black Institution is a Protestant fraternal society....
for protesting against what he saw as support for appeasement among some of their leadership. In 1971, he was sentenced to six months in prison for taking part in a banned parade in Dungiven
Dungiven
Dungiven is a small town and townland in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is on the main A6 Belfast to Derry road. It lies where the rivers Roe, Owenreagh and Owenbeg meet at the foot of the Benbradagh. Nearby is the Glenshane Pass, where the road rises to over...
although, on appeal, this was commuted to a £60 fine.
Hutchinson stood for the Democratic Unionist Party
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...
in Armagh
Armagh (Assembly constituency)
Armagh was a constituency used for the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973. Members were then elected from the constituency to the 1975 Constitutional Convention and the 1982 Assembly...
at the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973
-Seats summary:-Source:* http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/fa73.htm...
, becoming the last candidate elected. He was also elected to Armagh District Council at the 1973 local election
Northern Ireland local elections, 1973
Local government in Northern Ireland was reorganised in 1973 by the Local Government Act 1971 and the Local Government Act 1972...
. He was elected to the 1975 Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
The Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention was an elected body set up in 1975 by the UK Labour government of Harold Wilson as an attempt to deal with constitutional issues surrounding the status of Northern Ireland....
with an increased vote, but failed to take a seat in the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1982. He held his council seat until his retirement in 1993
Northern Ireland local elections, 1993
Elections for local government were held in Northern Ireland on 19 May 1993.-Overall:-Belfast:-References:...
, when he was succeeded by his son, Brian.