Joe Hendron | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Legislative Assembly forBelfast West | |
| In office 25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Office Created |
| Succeeded by | Diane Dodds |
| In office 20 October 1982 – 1986 | |
| Preceded by | Assembly re-established |
| Succeeded by | Assembly abolished |
| Member of Parliament forBelfast West | |
| In office 9 April 1992 – 8 April 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Gerry Adams |
| Succeeded by | Gerry Adams |
| Member of theNorthern Ireland Forum forBelfast West | |
| In office 30 May 1996 – 25 April 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Forum created |
| Succeeded by | Forum dissolved |
| Member of Belfast City Council | |
| In office 15 May 1985 – 19 May 1993 | |
| Preceded by | District created |
| Succeeded by | Patsy McGeown |
| Constituency | Lower Falls |
| In office 20 May 1981 – 15 May 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Liam Hunter |
| Succeeded by | District abolished |
| Constituency | Belfast Area D |
| Member of theNorthern Ireland Constitutional Convention forBelfast West | |
| In office 1975–1976 | |
| Preceded by | Convention created |
| Succeeded by | Convention dissolved |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1932-11-12)12 November 1932 (age 92) Belfast,Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | SDLP |
| Spouse | Sally |
| Children | 4 |
| Profession | Physician |
Joseph Gerard Hendron (born 12 November 1932) is aNorthern Ireland politician, a member of the centre-left Irish nationalistSocial Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).[1]
Hendron, also a local GP physician for 40 years, was first elected as a political representative ofBelfast West in 1975 to theNorthern Ireland Constitutional Convention. He was later elected toBelfast City Council in 1981 and in 1982 to the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Hendron was theMember of Parliament (MP) forBelfast West between April 1992 and May 1997 in the UK Parliament in London. He had taken the seat fromSinn Féin PresidentGerry Adams at his third attempt with a majority of 1%. He became the only nationalist MP to defeat Adams. The seat had previously been held for the SDLP byGerry Fitt (later Lord Fitt) until 1983. Hendron attracted unprecedented cross-community support from Nationalists and Unionists in the constituency. This was the only example where anSDLP candidate received a high enough number ofUnionist votes inBelfast West to help unseat aSinn Féin candidate. Adams regained the seat at thenext election in May 1997.
In 1996, Hendron was elected to theNorthern Ireland Forum and in 1998 to the newly reconvenedNorthern Ireland Assembly. However, he lost his seat in the2003 Northern Ireland Assembly election to a member ofIan Paisley'sDemocratic Unionist Party.
He was appointed a member of the Northern IrelandParades Commission in 2005.[2] He retired from this role in December 2010.[3]
| Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention | ||
|---|---|---|
| New convention | Member forWest Belfast 1975–1976 | Convention dissolved |
| Northern Ireland Assembly (1982) | ||
| New assembly | MPA forWest Belfast 1982–1986 | Assembly abolished |
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBelfast West 1992–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Northern Ireland Forum | ||
| New forum | Member forWest Belfast 1996–1998 | Forum dissolved |
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
| New assembly | MLA forBelfast West 1998–2003 | Succeeded by |