Robert Dodd McConnell, known as Bertie McConnell (27 March 1921 – 28 May 1994[1]) was a Northern Irish politician and Army officer.

Bertie McConnell
Member of North Down Borough Council
In office
30 May 1973 – 20 May 1981
Preceded byCouncil established
Succeeded byDonald Hayes
ConstituencyNorth Down Area A
Member of the Constitutional Convention
for North Down
In office
1975–1976
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for North Down
In office
1973–1974
Member of the Northern Ireland Parliament
for Bangor
In office
1969–1973
Member of Bangor Borough Council
In office
1958–1973
Personal details
Born27 March 1921
Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland
Died28 May 1994
Political partyAlliance Party (from 1972)
Other political
affiliations
Independent Unionist (1958 - 1969)

Background

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McConnell was born in Bangor, County Down, and served in the British Army in World War II. Entering the Officer Training Corps in 1940 after dropping out from Queen's College, he was commissioned into the Royal Army Service Corps in 1941 as a Second Lieutenant. During the war, he lost sight in one eye and was discharged as a captain in March 1945.[2]

In 1958, McConnell was elected to Bangor Borough Council, serving until 1973. He was elected at the 1969 Northern Ireland general election, as an unofficial Unionist Member of Parliament for Bangor. Despite being an independent, he was a supporter of Ulster Unionist Party Prime Minister Terence O'Neill.[2]

McConnell joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland alongside Phelim O'Neill and Tom Gormley in early 1972. He was elected to North Down Borough Council in 1973, and to the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Down. He held this seat on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention in 1975, and served as the President of the Alliance Party in 1976.[2]

McConnell stood down from his council seat in 1981[3] and took no further role in active politics.

References

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  1. ^ Lynn, Brendan. "McConnell, Robert Dodd". Dictionary of Irish Biography. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Biographies of Members of the Northern Ireland House of Commons
  3. ^ The Local Government Elections 1973–1981: North Down
Parliament of Northern Ireland
New constituency Member of Parliament for Bangor
1969–1973
Parliament abolished
Northern Ireland Assembly (1973)
New assembly Assembly Member for North Down
1973–1974
Assembly abolished
Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
New convention Member for North Down
1975–1976
Convention dissolved
Party political offices
Preceded by President of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
1976
Succeeded by
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