Patrick Roche (politician)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Roche is a former Unionist politician
in Northern Ireland
.
After working in banking, Roche studied Economics and Politics at Trinity College, Dublin
, followed by Political Philosophy at the University of Durham. He then became a lecturer in Economics at the University of Ulster
, and in 1978 also took up a post at the Irish Baptist College
. He wrote a number of books on politics and economics in Northern Ireland.
Roche joined the UK Unionist Party
(UKUP) and headed their list in South Belfast for the Northern Ireland Forum
election in 1996, but was not elected.
At the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998
, Roche was elected in Lagan Valley
. With three of the other four UKUP members in the Assembly, he left in January 1999, disagreeing with leader Robert McCartney
's policy of resigning from the Assembly should Sinn Féin
become part of the power sharing executive. They formed the Northern Ireland Unionist Party
(NIUP), and Roche became deputy leader.
During his time in the Assembly, Roche proposed a motion on sectarianism
. During the debate, he accused Sinn Féin
MLA Gerry Kelly
of being a convicted murderer. He refused to withdraw the accusation even though Kelly corrected him, and he was ordered to leave the chamber.
Roche did not contest his seat at the 2003 election
, at which the NIUP lost all its seats.
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...
.
After working in banking, Roche studied Economics and Politics at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, followed by Political Philosophy at the University of Durham. He then became a lecturer in Economics at the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
, and in 1978 also took up a post at the Irish Baptist College
Irish Baptist College
The Irish Baptist College is a college, a department of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland and a Queen's University Belfast centre. It is part of the Baptist Theological Centre which is located in the Baptist Centre and is shared with ABC...
. He wrote a number of books on politics and economics in Northern Ireland.
Roche joined the UK Unionist Party
UK Unionist Party
The UK Unionist Party was a small unionist political party operating in Northern Ireland from 1995 to 2008. It was nominally formed by Robert McCartney, formerly of the Ulster Unionist Party, to contest a by-election the North Down by-election, 1995 and then further constituted to contest the 1996...
(UKUP) and headed their list in South Belfast for the Northern Ireland Forum
Northern Ireland Forum
The Northern Ireland Forum was a body set up in 1996 as part of a process of negotiations that eventually led to the Belfast Agreement in 1998....
election in 1996, but was not elected.
At the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1998
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:...
, Roche was elected in Lagan Valley
Lagan Valley (Assembly constituency)
Lagan Valley 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....
. With three of the other four UKUP members in the Assembly, he left in January 1999, disagreeing with leader Robert McCartney
Robert McCartney (politician)
Robert Law McCartney QC is a Northern Ireland barrister and former leader of the UK Unionist Party.He was initially a member of the Ulster Unionist Party but was expelled in June 1987 when he refused to withdraw from the general election of that year...
's policy of resigning from the Assembly should Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
become part of the power sharing executive. They formed the Northern Ireland Unionist Party
Northern Ireland Unionist Party
The Northern Ireland Unionist Party was a small political party in Northern Ireland. It was formed in January 1999 as a splinter party from the UK Unionist Party . This split was caused by disagreement between the five UKUP members of the Northern Ireland Assembly...
(NIUP), and Roche became deputy leader.
During his time in the Assembly, Roche proposed a motion on sectarianism
Sectarianism
Sectarianism, according to one definition, is bigotry, discrimination or hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions within a group, such as between different denominations of a religion, class, regional or factions of a political movement.The ideological...
. During the debate, he accused Sinn Féin
Sinn 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...
MLA Gerry Kelly
Gerry Kelly
Gerard "Gerry" Kelly is an Irish republican politician and former Provisional Irish Republican Army volunteer who played a leading role in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement on 10 April 1998...
of being a convicted murderer. He refused to withdraw the accusation even though Kelly corrected him, and he was ordered to leave the chamber.
Roche did not contest his seat at the 2003 election
Northern Ireland Assembly election, 2003
The second elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly, which at the time of the elections had been suspended for just over a year, were held on Wednesday 26 November 2003. Six members were elected by Single Transferable Vote from each of Northern Ireland's eighteen Westminster Parliamentary...
, at which the NIUP lost all its seats.