Tommy Kirkham facts for kids

Tommy Kirkham is a political figure from Northern Ireland. He was a local councillor, which means he helped make decisions for his community. He was also involved with groups that supported loyalist ideas. He served as a councillor on Newtownabbey Borough Council and was even a deputy mayor.

Becoming a Councillor

Kirkham started his political journey in 1989. He was elected to Newtownabbey Borough Council as a councillor for the DUP. He represented the Antrim Line area. However, he lost his seat in the 1993 local elections. This happened after some changes were made to the council areas.

Returning to Local Politics

After losing his seat, Kirkham joined the Ulster Democratic Party. He tried to get elected again in 1995 but was not successful. In 1996, he also ran for the Northern Ireland Forum election in East Antrim, but he did not win.

He successfully returned to the council in the 1997 local elections. This time, he represented the Macedon area. In 2001, he became a main spokesperson for the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG). This group was linked to loyalist ideas. He served on the council as an independent, meaning he wasn't officially part of a political party. He was also listed as the leader of the Ulster Protestant League.

Serving as Deputy Mayor

As a councillor, Tommy Kirkham was chosen to be the deputy mayor of Newtownabbey twice. The first time was in 1999, with support from the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). He became deputy mayor again in 2010, this time with support from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

Some other councillors were not happy about his appointment. They felt that the DUP was preventing them from getting important roles. In 2006, the DUP had thought about supporting Kirkham to become mayor, but they changed their minds. He lost his council seat in the 2011 elections.

Working with the UPRG

Kirkham was one of the main spokesmen for the UPRG. He helped deliver statements from the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). In 2004, he met with the Irish leader, Bertie Ahern. He described this meeting as "historic, productive and amicable." He also worked to move loyalist groups away from racism. He supported a plan to address concerns about links between some loyalist groups and racist activities.

During some disagreements within the UDA in 2002, Kirkham supported his friend John 'Grug' Gregg. Because of this, his home faced a threat from others involved in the disagreements. No one was hurt in the incident. He continued to be an important voice for the UPRG. In 2003, he read a statement from the UDA leadership. In this statement, they announced they would continue their ceasefire.

Later Activities

Eventually, Kirkham separated from the main UPRG group. He started a new group called Beyond Conflict. As the leader of this group, he asked the government for money. He wanted to turn his group into an agency that would help with community development. The government did give money to the UPRG, but Kirkham's group did not receive any funding.

His separation from the UPRG and UDA became wider in 2007. There were disagreements within the UDA. Kirkham supported certain individuals in these disagreements. This led to him and his associate Gary Fisher being removed from the UDA in March 2007. Kirkham said he would continue to work in his area.

Kirkham remains the head of Beyond Conflict. He has stated that his group has taken steps towards peace. These steps include ending paramilitary activities in his area. They also involve working with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning. His group also works on programs that promote cultural diversity.

See also

• Ulster Political Research Group
• UDA South East Antrim Brigade
• Ulster Defence Association
• Shoukri brothers