Oliver Napier
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Sir Oliver Napier | |
---|---|
Legal Minister and Head of the Office of Law Reform | |
In office 1 January 1974 – 28 May 1974 | |
Preceded by | Office created |
Succeeded by | Office abolished |
Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland | |
In office 1970–1972 Serving with Bob Cooper | |
Preceded by | Created |
Succeeded by | Phelim O'Neill |
In office 1972–1984 | |
Preceded by | Phelim O'Neill |
Succeeded by | John Cushnahan |
Personal details | |
Born | Belfast, Northern Ireland | 11 July 1935
Died | 2 July 2011 Belfast, Northern Ireland | (aged 75)
Nationality | British |
Political party | Alliance |
Spouse | Briege Barnes |
Children | 9 |
Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
Occupation | Solicitor |
Sir Oliver Napier (11 July 1935 – 2 July 2011
Early life
Napier was educated at
Political career
Napier joined the Ulster Liberal Party, rising to become vice president by 1969. That year, he led a group of four party members who joined the New Ulster Movement, accepting the post of joint chairman of its political committee. The Liberal Party promptly expelled him, but, working with Bob Cooper, he used his position to establish a new political party, the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, which sought to become a political force that could command support from across the divided communities of the province, but remaining pro-union.[4] This aimed to offer an alternative to what Napier described as the sectarianism of the Ulster Unionist Party. Despite his faith he was a supporter of the Union.
He served as the party's joint leader from 1970 until 1972, then as its sole leader from 1973 to 1984.
However, in 1995 he returned to the political fray when he contested the North Down by-election for the Alliance, standing again in the 1997 general election.
In 1996 he was elected to the
Prior to his death Oliver Napier was the last prominent member of the Ulster Liberal Party.
Public positions
Napier served on the board of governors of the first integrated school in Northern Ireland, Lagan College.
References
- ^ "Former Alliance leader Sir Oliver Napier dies". BBC News. 2 July 2011. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
- ^ "CAIN: Events: Sunningdale – Members of the 1974 Executive". cain.ulster.ac.uk.
- ^ Ryder, Chris (3 July 2011). "Sir Oliver Napier obituary". The Guardian.
- ^ Thomas G. Mitchell, Indispensable Traitors, pp.10–11; 34–35
- ^ Thomas G. Mitchell, Indispensable Traitors, p.64
- ^ "Rare voice of moderation during worst of Troubles". The Irish Times.