South Antrim - MITCHEL McLAUGHLIN, MLA

MITCHEL McLAUGHLIN lives in the Bogside area of Derry City with his wife Mary-Lou. They have three sons and four grandchildren. Tacaíonn Mitchel McLaughlin le próiseas na síochána agus straitéis Shinn Féin fa choinne Éire Aontaithe

Mitchel became politically active in the Civil Rights Association in 1968. He joined Sinn Féin in the 60’s and was also a leading member of the National H-Blocks Committee (a committee organised to campaign around the prison protests of the late 70's and early 80's).

Mitchel has been a leading member of Sinn Féin for many years and as well as having been longstanding member of the Party's Ard Chomhairle (National Executive), also served as Sinn Fein's General Secretary and then National Chairperson. He has played a central role in formulating Sinn Fein's peace strategy and was instrumental in drawing up our two policy documents, Scenario for Peace (1989)and Towards a Lasting Peace in Ireland (1992) which led to the present political strategy.

Mitchel is one of Sinn Fein's main spokespersons on the peace process and has traveled throughout Ireland, Europe, North America and Australia to promote and gain support for the Irish Peace Process.

He was elected to Derry City Council in 1985 and served as a Councillor for over twenty years.

Mitchel was elected to the Assembly as a member for Foyle in the 1998 elections and was re-elected in November 2003. He was a member of the Environment Committee and of the Economic subgroup in the Programme for Government Committee.

Switching constituency’s at the 2007 Assembly Election Mitchel secured the first ever Sinn Féin seat in South Antrim – topping the poll in the process. Mitchel McLaughlin is currently party spokesperson on the Economy and sits on the Committee of the Department of Finance and Personnel andPublic Accounts Committee.

Contact Details: Unit 1, 2 Main Street, Randalstown, Co. Antrim, BT41 3AB.