Tom Mitchell (Irish politician)
Tom Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster | |
| In office 26 May 1955 – 18 July 1955 11 August 1955 – 7 October 1955 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 July 1931 Irish Republican Army |
Thomas James Mitchell
Omagh raid
Mitchell was born in Dublin on 29 July 1931, and was working there as a bricklayer in 1954. He took part in an unsuccessful
General election
While serving his sentence in
The
Election petition trial
On this occasion, his defeated opponent Charles Beattie lodged an election petition, claiming to have won on the basis that voters knew Mitchell to be disqualified and incapable of election and so had thrown away their votes.[7] Mitchell decided to attend the election court in person without legal representation, tackling the deputy governor of the prison over his refusal to allow an election address to be sent out; the deputy governor explained that instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs prevented it.[8] Mitchell made a lengthy address to the court on the second day, asserting that the people of Mid-Ulster were being put on trial and were about to be disfranchised.[9] As Mitchell knew was inevitable, the court declared that he was not duly elected, and awarded the seat to Beattie.[10]
Defeat
The following year, Beattie was himself disqualified from Parliament, as he held appointments which were legally "offices of profit under the crown"; while an Act of Parliament could theoretically have validated his election, the Select Committee found it would be inappropriate given that the issue of qualification to be elected had been prominent in the by-election. A new by-election had to be held in the constituency, and Mitchell was again chosen as the Sinn Féin candidate.[11] On this occasion Mitchell was also opposed by the former MP for the seat, Michael O'Neill who was sponsored by the Irish Anti-Partition League. Mitchell and O'Neill split the nationalist vote and he was defeated at the polls on 8 May 1956 by George Forrest, who stood as an Independent Unionist candidate.
Dail elections
He stood for unsuccessfully for election to the Dail, in Dublin North-East in 1957 and 1961 general elections for Sinn Féin,[12] using the Irish version of his name, Tomás Misteil.[13][14]
Later life
Running under the
In 2006, Mitchell delivered an oration at the funeral of veteran IRA member, Frank Morris.[15]
Mitchell died on 22 July 2020, shortly before his 89th birthday.[16][17]
See also
References
- ^ London Gazette 31 May 1955
- ^ Hanley, Brian, and Millar, Scott (2009). The Lost Revolution: The Story of the Official IRA and the Workers' Party. Dublin: Penguin Ireland. , p. 13
- ^ "8 Men Sentenced For Barracks Raid", The Times, 16 December 1954, p. 5.
- ^ Parker's Election Agent and Returning Officer, Sixth Edition ed. by H.W. Wightwick and H.W. Wollaston, Charles Knight & Co, London, 1959, p. 49.
- ^ Hansard, HC 5ser vol 544 cols 33-84.
- ^ "Bigger Vote For Sinn Féin", The Times, 13 August 1955, p. 6.
- ^ "Ulster Unionists To Claim Seat", The Times, 17 August 1955, p. 8.
- ^ "Election Petition Hearing", The Times, 6 October 1955, p. 12.
- ^ "Ulster Election Petition", The Times, 7 October 1955, p. 5.
- ^ "Mid-Ulster M.P.", The Times, 8 October 1955, p. 3.
- ^ "Candidate Chosen For Third Time", The Times, 9 January 1956, p. 8.
- ^ Tomas Misteil www.electionsireland.org
- ^ Mid Ulster Nicholas Whyte, www.ark.ac.uk
- ^ The Resistance Campaign 50 years on An Phoblacht, March 1, 2007.
- ^ "Frank Morris", An Phoblacht, 15 June 2006
- ^ "O'Neill extends condolences at death of Tom Mitchell". 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Tributes paid following the death of former Sinn Féin MP Tom Mitchell | An Phoblacht". An Phoblacht. 23 July 2020.