Denis Haughey facts for kids

Denis Haughey, born on October 3, 1944, is a former politician from Northern Ireland. He was part of a group that wanted to see Ireland united. He played an important role in politics for many years.

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Denis Haughey was born in Coalisland, a town in Northern Ireland. He went to Queen's University Belfast to study politics. While at university, he became involved in the civil rights movement. This movement worked to ensure fair treatment for everyone.

He was the first leader of the Tyrone Civil Rights Association. He also helped start the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP). This party aimed to achieve a united Ireland through peaceful and democratic ways. Before becoming a full-time politician, he worked as a teacher. From 1972 to 1977, he was the Chairman of the SDLP.

A Career in Northern Ireland Politics

Denis Haughey ran for election several times. In 1974, he tried to win a seat in the UK Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. He also ran in 1975 for the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention.

In 1980, Haughey stopped teaching to work full-time for John Hume, who was the leader of the SDLP. During this time, Haughey was the party's International Secretary. This meant he represented the SDLP in groups like the Party of European Socialists and the Socialist International. These groups bring together political parties from different countries.

In 1982, Haughey was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for Mid Ulster. However, he and other SDLP members chose not to take their seats. Instead, they joined the New Ireland Forum. This group discussed ways to bring peace and a new future for Ireland. He also ran for the UK Parliament seat of Mid Ulster many times between 1983 and 1997.

Working for Peace and Government

In 1989, Denis Haughey was elected to the Cookstown District Council. He became the leader of the SDLP group on the council. He was also a key person in important peace talks. He led the SDLP team in the Brooke-Mayhew Talks. Later, he was part of the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement. This agreement was a major step towards peace in Northern Ireland.

In 1996, he ran for the Northern Ireland Forum election but was not successful. However, in 1998, he was elected again to the Northern Ireland Assembly for Mid Ulster. He served as a Junior Minister from 1999 to 2002. This role involved assisting the Deputy First Minister. He lost his Assembly seat in the 2003 election. In 2004, he tried to become a candidate for the European Parliament election but was not chosen.