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Michael Ferguson (Irish politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Ferguson was an Irish Republican politician
. He served as a councillor on Lisburn City Council and as an MLA for Belfast West.
representative on Lisburn City Council
. In 2003, he was also elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly
, to represent Belfast West
. As an MLA he was appointed as Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Education and led the campaign against education cuts in Northern Ireland As a Councillor and committed community activist, he led a number of successful campaigns on housing, traffic calming and against the siting of mobile phone masts in residential areas. Ferguson also represented Sinn Féin on the all-Ireland body charged with administering European funding, and he also served as vice-chair of the West Belfast Partnership Board. Michael Ferguson was well known as a founder member of the West Belfast Safer Streets Campaign Group. Through this work he challenged anti-social behaviour, developed initiatives to tackle crime and created opportunities for young people to contribute positively to the community.
. He had spoken about the illness to the Irish News (a Belfast-based daily newspaper), saying "Men are neglectful of their own health and do not visit their doctors." Tributes following his death came from across the political divide with SDLP councillor Patricia Lewsley
remarking that he was a "colourful character who will be missed by many members of the political family" and Ulster Unionist MLA Billy Bell
saying that he was "not only an energetic political opponent, but more importantly he was a dedicated family man". The Teeling Roundabout (also referred to as Poleglass Roundabout) at Upper Dumurry Lane has been informally renamed the "Michael Ferguson Roundabout" in the late community activist's memory. He had a personal interest in environmental and horticultural issues and won a number of awards for environmental improvement schemes. This is marked by the annual flower bed competition in which pupils from local schools are invited to design the flower beds for the roundabout.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He served as a councillor on Lisburn City Council and as an MLA for Belfast West.
Politics
Ferguson graduated from Queen's University Belfast in 1989 and became involved in politics. In 1989, Ferguson was elected as a Sinn FéinSinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
representative on Lisburn City Council
Lisburn City Council
Lisburn City Council is a district council covering an area partly in County Antrim and partly in County Down in Northern Ireland. The council is the second largest in the Belfast Metropolitan Area. Council headquarters are in the city of Lisburn, upon which was conferred city status in May 2002 as...
. In 2003, he was also elected to the 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...
, to represent Belfast West
Belfast West (Assembly constituency)
Belfast West is a constituency in the Northern Ireland Assembly.The seat was first used for a Northern Ireland-only election for the Northern Ireland Assembly, 1973...
. As an MLA he was appointed as Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Education and led the campaign against education cuts in Northern Ireland As a Councillor and committed community activist, he led a number of successful campaigns on housing, traffic calming and against the siting of mobile phone masts in residential areas. Ferguson also represented Sinn Féin on the all-Ireland body charged with administering European funding, and he also served as vice-chair of the West Belfast Partnership Board. Michael Ferguson was well known as a founder member of the West Belfast Safer Streets Campaign Group. Through this work he challenged anti-social behaviour, developed initiatives to tackle crime and created opportunities for young people to contribute positively to the community.
Illness and death
Ferguson died on 24 September 2006 from testicular cancerTesticular cancer
Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system.In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. In the UK, approximately 2,000 men are diagnosed each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of...
. He had spoken about the illness to the Irish News (a Belfast-based daily newspaper), saying "Men are neglectful of their own health and do not visit their doctors." Tributes following his death came from across the political divide with SDLP councillor Patricia Lewsley
Patricia Lewsley
Patricia Lewsley is the current Commissioner for Children and Young People for Northern Ireland. She was previously a member of the Northern Irish Assembly for Lagan Valley, and a councillor in Lisburn City Council....
remarking that he was a "colourful character who will be missed by many members of the political family" and Ulster Unionist MLA Billy Bell
Billy Bell
William Edward Bell was a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played four seasons in the National Hockey Association and six in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Wanderers, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators. He won the Stanley Cup in 1924 with the Canadiens.-Career...
saying that he was "not only an energetic political opponent, but more importantly he was a dedicated family man". The Teeling Roundabout (also referred to as Poleglass Roundabout) at Upper Dumurry Lane has been informally renamed the "Michael Ferguson Roundabout" in the late community activist's memory. He had a personal interest in environmental and horticultural issues and won a number of awards for environmental improvement schemes. This is marked by the annual flower bed competition in which pupils from local schools are invited to design the flower beds for the roundabout.