Ian Milne | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Mid Ulster District Council | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Niamh Milne |
| Constituency | Moyola |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly forMid Ulster | |
| In office 25 March 2013 – 1 December 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Francie Molloy |
| Succeeded by | Emma Sheerin |
| Member of Magherafelt District Council | |
| In office 5 May 2005 – 22 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick McErlean |
| Succeeded by | Council abolished |
| Constituency | Moyola |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ian Patrick Milne (1954-04-08)8 April 1954 (age 71)[1] |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Military service | |
| Paramilitaries | Provisional IRA(1971–1992) Fianna Éireann(1970–1971) |
| Rank | Volunteer |
| Unit | South Derry Brigade |
| Battles/wars | The Troubles |
Ian Milne (born 8 April 1954) is anIrish republicanpolitician fromNorthern Ireland.
Born inBellaghy,County Londonderry on 8 April 1954, he attended the same school as also future-Provisional IRA membersThomas McElwee, andFrancis Hughes. Milne joined theOfficial IRA-aligned faction of theFianna Éireann militant youth organisation soon after its formation at the age of 16, but the following year moved to join theProvisional IRA. He was convicted of illegalexplosives possession inCrumlin Road Jail in 1971. He was apprehended after explosives went off in a car in which he was travelling. After serving 18 months, he escaped in January 1973 and continued his involvement in the Provisional IRA. The following year, he was arrested in theRepublic of Ireland after stealing aGarda car, and in June 1974 he was sentenced to five years ofpenal servitude inPortlaoise Prison.[2] However, several months later he was part of a successful prison break, and resumed his activities in Northern Ireland.[2][3]
During the mid-1970s, theRoyal Ulster Constabulary described Milne as one of its three "most wanted" men in the South Londonderry area, alongside Francis Hughes andDominic McGlinchey. In 1977, he was arrested and received alife sentence for murder for the shooting ofUlster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldier, James Speer, inDesertmartin on 9 November 1976. Speer was shot whilst working in his garage. Serving time atLong Kesh, he participated in theblanket protest. He was released in 1992, having served 14.[2][4]
At the2005 Northern Ireland local elections, Milne was elected toMagherafelt District Council forSinn Féin, and he held his seat in2011.[5][6] While on the council, he served two terms as chairman.[6] In 2013, he was co-opted to theNorthern Ireland Assembly inMid Ulster, replacingFrancie Molloy.[7][8] He kept this seat when he was elected in2016.[9]
In September 2017 Milne was served acivil writ by the family of James Speer for his alleged involvement in the murder.[4][10]
In December 2018, he resigned asMLA to seek re-election toMid Ulster District Council.[11] He was elected toMid Ulster District Council in2019,[12] and re-elected in2023.[13]
Ian Milne from Bellaghy was co-opted to the Assembly to replace Francie Molloy in April 2013 and has sat on the Agriculture and Environment Committees. He was elected to his local council in 2005 and served two terms as chair.
Elected: Ian Milne (SF) 1st count
| Northern Ireland Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | MLA forMid Ulster 2013–2018 | Succeeded by |