Bernadette Devlin McAliskey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bernadette Devlin McAliskey
Devlin in 2011
Member of Parliament for Mid Ulster
In office 17 April 1969 – 8 February 1974
Preceded by	George Forrest
Succeeded by	John Dunlop
Personal details
Born	Josephine Bernadette Devlin (1947-04-23) 23 April 1947 (age 78) Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Independent Republican (1970–1974), (1976–1977), (1978–present)
Other political affiliations	Unity (1969–1970), Irish Republican Socialist Party (1974–1976), Independent Socialist Party (1977–1978)
Spouse	Michael McAliskey
Children	Róisín McAliskey Deirdre McAliskey
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast

Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, born on April 23, 1947, is an important Irish civil rights leader and former politician. She is known for fighting for fairness and equality. From 1969 to 1974, she served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Mid Ulster in Northern Ireland.

At just 21 years old, Bernadette became the youngest person ever to join the British Parliament. She took her seat in Westminster, which was a new approach for many Irish politicians at the time. Her time in Parliament began as the Troubles started. This was a long conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years.

Bernadette remained active in politics, working for a united and socialist Ireland. She was involved with groups like People's Democracy and later helped start the Irish Republican Socialist Party. She and her husband survived a serious attack in 1981. Since 1997, she has led the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme, an organization that helps communities in Dungannon.

Early Life and Education

Bernadette Devlin was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She grew up in a Catholic family as the third of six children. Her father taught her about Irish Republican ideas before he passed away when she was nine. After his death, her family relied on welfare, which deeply affected her. Her mother died when Bernadette was nineteen. This meant Bernadette helped raise her younger siblings while also attending university.

She went to St Patrick's Girls Academy in Dungannon. In 1968, she was studying psychology at Queen's University Belfast. During this time, she became a key leader in a student-led civil rights group called People's Democracy. Because of her activism, her university scholarship was taken away. She was also not allowed to take her final exams.

Starting Her Political Journey

Bernadette first ran for election against James Chichester-Clark in 1969 but did not win. However, when the MP for Mid Ulster, George Forrest, passed away, a special election was held. Bernadette ran on the "Unity" platform. She won the election, beating Forrest's widow, Anna.

At 21, she became the youngest MP in Parliament. She held this record for the youngest woman elected until 2015. Bernadette promised to "take my seat and fight for your rights." This meant she would actively participate in Parliament. On April 22, 1969, the day before her 22nd birthday, she took her oath. She then gave her first speech within an hour.

The Battle of the Bogside

In August 1969, Bernadette was involved in the Battle of the Bogside. This was a major event where residents in Derry stood up for their rights. In December 1969, she was found guilty of encouraging a riot. She served six months in prison for this. After being re-elected in 1970, Bernadette announced she would serve as an independent socialist in Parliament.

Touring the United States

After the Battle of the Bogside, Bernadette traveled to the United States in August 1969. Her trip received a lot of media attention. She met with members of the Black Panther Party in Watts, Los Angeles and supported their cause. She appeared on popular TV shows like Meet the Press and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

At her speeches, she compared the struggle for civil rights in the U.S. to the situation for Catholics in Northern Ireland. She sometimes challenged her audiences. In Philadelphia, she encouraged an African-American singer to lead "We Shall Overcome" for an Irish-American crowd. Many in the audience did not stand for the song. In Detroit, she refused to speak until African-Americans, who were not allowed in, were let into the event.

The Mayor of New York, John Lindsay, planned to give Bernadette a key to the city. However, Bernadette felt that the key should go to the poor in America. She left the tour early and asked Eamonn McCann to give the key to the Black Panther Party in Harlem.

Bloody Sunday Events

In 1972, Bernadette witnessed the tragic Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry. She was very upset when the Speaker of the House of Commons, Selwyn Lloyd, would not let her speak about what she saw. This was against the usual rules that allowed MPs who witnessed an event to speak about it.

The day after Bloody Sunday, Bernadette slapped Conservative Home Secretary Reginald Maudling. He had falsely claimed in Parliament that soldiers had fired in self-defense. When reporters asked if she would apologize, Bernadette said she was "just sorry I didn't get him by the throat."

Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath later remembered the event. He said he thought she was going to hit him, but she couldn't reach, so she hit Maudling instead.

Supporting Prisoners

McAliskey ran as an independent candidate in the 1979 European Parliament elections. She supported prisoners involved in protests at Long Kesh prison. She received 5.9% of the vote. She was a main speaker for the Smash H-Block Campaign. This campaign supported the hunger strikes in 1980 and 1981.

In September 1981, McAliskey traveled around Europe to gain support for the strikers. She was sent away from Spain when she arrived at Barcelona airport. She then flew to Paris. There, she asked French Trade Unions to stop handling British goods until the hunger strikes ended.

Surviving an Attack

On January 16, 1981, Bernadette and her husband were attacked. Members of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) broke into their home near Coalisland, County Tyrone. The attackers shot Bernadette nine times in front of her children.

British soldiers were watching the McAliskey home but did not stop the attack. Some people later claimed that parts of the security forces helped the UDA plan the attack. Soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders arrived and took her by helicopter to a hospital. The attackers were caught by the army and later sent to jail.

Later Political Work

South Tyrone Empowerment Programme

Bernadette McAliskey is the chief executive of the South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP). She helped start STEP in 1997. This organization offers many services. It helps with community development, training, and advice for migrants. It also works on policy and community businesses.

Denied Entry to the US

In 2003, Bernadette was not allowed to enter the United States. She was sent back because the U.S. government said she posed "a serious threat." This likely referred to her conviction for encouraging a riot in 1969. She said she had no links to terrorism and had often visited the U.S. before.

Recent Activities

On May 12, 2007, McAliskey was a guest speaker at the first annual James Connolly event in Dublin. She continues to work with migrant workers to improve their conditions in Northern Ireland.

During the 2016 Northern Ireland Assembly election, McAliskey helped Eamonn McCann's campaign. McCann was a candidate for People before Profit and was successfully elected. In 2024, McAliskey supported Clare Daly in the 2024 European Parliament election in Ireland.

Political Beliefs

Throughout her life, Bernadette McAliskey has been linked to Irish Republicanism and various Socialist and Communist groups. In 1969, a politician called her "nothing less than Fidel Castro in a miniskirt." Bernadette replied that she was "as left as James Connolly and the starry plough." She also admired Countess Markievicz.

Views on a United Ireland

In March 2017, McAliskey said she would not vote "Yes" in a vote for a United Ireland. She believed that Sinn Féin wanted a United Ireland only if they could control it. She stated, "Sinn Fein has no intention of moving forward to a united Ireland that it doesn't control."

She also said she would like to "dismantle" both the Irish Republic and the northern state. She wished for a new Ireland with a new Constitution. In November 2018, she said she would only vote for a United Ireland if it was clearly socialist. In August 2019, she repeated that she would not vote for a United Ireland. She asked, "Who would want to join the Free State?"

In September 2023, McAliskey stated, "I have no more interest than the average Unionist in being submerged into the Free State. Absolutely none." She believes a "new Ireland" needs a "new Constitution."

Northern Ireland Issues

In September 2016, McAliskey said that if the Irish and British governments were serious about reforming Northern Ireland, they would have worked to end segregation. This includes separating housing and education.

In February 2018, Declan Kearney of Sinn Féin claimed that the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland was influenced by the IRA and Sinn Féin. McAliskey called his views "delusional silliness." She said that many different groups, including human rights activists and trade unionists, were involved in the civil rights movement.

Republicanism Defined

In September 2016, McAliskey said that if republicanism means being true to the ideas of Thomas Paine and Wolfe Tone, then Sinn Féin are "bad Republicans." She questioned if Sinn Féin truly upheld the core republican idea that authority should not be exercised without a person's agreement.

Personal Life

In 1971, Bernadette gave birth to her daughter, Róisín. At the time, she was unmarried, which caused some political criticism. She later married Róisín's father, Michael McAliskey, on her 26th birthday in 1973.

Images for kids

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  Devlin McAliskey in 1986

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  With Anthony Farrar-Hockley on After Dark in 1988: Licence to Kill?

See also

In Spanish: Bernadette Devlin para niños