Megan Fearon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Megan Fearon
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| Junior Minister Assisting the Deputy First Minister | |
| In office 25 May 2016 – 26 January 2017 Serving with Alastair Ross
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| Deputy FM | Martin McGuinness |
| Preceded by | Jennifer McCann |
| Succeeded by | Declan Kearney |
| Member of the Legislative Assembly for Newry and Armagh |
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| In office 2 July 2012 – 6 January 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Conor Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Liz Kimmins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 July 1991 Drumintee, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Political party | Sinn Féin |
| Alma mater | Queen's University Belfast |
Megan Fearon (born July 29, 1991) is a former politician from Northern Ireland. She was a member of the Sinn Féin party. From 2012 to 2020, she served in the Northern Ireland Assembly. This is a group of elected leaders who make laws for Northern Ireland.
When she first took office, Megan was only 20 years old. This made her the youngest person ever to become a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). At age 24, she became a government minister, making her one of the youngest in the world to hold such a role.
A Career in Politics
Megan Fearon's journey into politics began while she was still a student. She was chosen by her party, Sinn Féin, to become an MLA in 2012.
Becoming an MLA
At the time, Megan was finishing her studies at Queen's University Belfast. She was studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. Before becoming an MLA, she was already active in her community. She worked on campaigns to raise awareness about mental health.
She took the place of another party member, Conor Murphy, in the Assembly. This was because Sinn Féin had a rule against "double jobbing," which means a person could not hold two major political jobs at once. When she joined, she became the new youngest MLA, a title previously held by her party colleague Chris Hazzard.
Work in the Assembly
As an MLA, Megan Fearon was involved in many important areas. She was a member of several committees that looked after government spending, the economy, and the main government office. She was also the party's main voice on issues of equality and human rights.
Megan was a strong supporter of equal rights for all people. She supported causes like LGBTQIA+ equality and women's health issues. She was the head of the Northern Ireland Assembly Women's Caucus, a group that supports women in politics. She also worked with groups focused on peace, security, and helping children and young people.
In 2016 and 2017, voters re-elected her to the Assembly. In May 2016, she was chosen to be a Junior Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, the government of Northern Ireland.
Leaving Politics
In December 2019, Megan Fearon announced she was stepping down as an MLA. She said that while she would no longer be an elected politician, she would continue to be an activist for the causes she believes in.
