Bobby McKee (1941 – 24 January 2021) was a Northern Irish

Ulster loyalist Ulster loyalism is a strand of Unionism in Ireland, Ulster unionism associated with working class Ulster Protestants in Northern Ireland. Like other unionists, loyalists support the continued existence of Northern Ireland (and formerly all of I ...

politician and former member of the

Ulster Volunteer Force The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) is an Ulster loyalism, Ulster loyalist paramilitary group based in Northern Ireland. Formed in 1965, it first emerged in 1966. Its first leader was Gusty Spence, a former Royal Ulster Rifles soldier from North ...

(UVF), from

Larne Larne (, , the name of a Gaelic Ireland, Gaelic territory)Larne/Latharna
Placenames Database of Ireland. is a to ...

Background

McKee was a

Democratic Unionist Party The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is a Unionism in Ireland, unionist, Ulster loyalism, loyalist, British nationalist and national conservative political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1971 during the Troubles by Ian Paisley, who ...

councillor and a member of

Larne Borough Council Larne Borough Council was a Local Council in County Antrim in Northern Ireland. It merged with Ballymena Borough Council and Carrickfergus Borough Council in May 2015 under the reorganisation of local government in Northern Ireland to become Mid a ...

from 1989 to 2015. He served as a Mayor of Larne in 2004 and 2008. His brother

Jack McKee Jack McKee (4 September 1943 – 4 October 2015) was a Northern Irish unionist politician who served as a Larne Borough Council, Larne Borough Councillor for the Larne Area C DEA from 1973 Larne Borough Council election, 1973 to 1985 Larne Boro ...

, who died in 2015, was a DUP councillor in Larne and subsequently a member of the Traditional Unionist Voice. He lost both his legs in 1974 as the result of an

Provisional IRA The Provisional Irish Republican Army (Provisional IRA), officially known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA; ) and informally known as the Provos, was an Irish republican paramilitary force that sought to end British rule in Northern Ireland ...

car bomb when he was a member of the UVF. A founder member and chairman of the N.I. Amputees Association he was also chairman of Larne Disabled Fitness Suite. Bobby was Vice chairman of C.A.B. and was a member for 10 years. A member of N.I. Housing Council for 15 years he served as a board member for 6 years. He received an MBE in

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

2004 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2004 were appointments by some of the Commonwealth realms to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by citizens of those countries. The New Year Honours are awarded as part of the New Year celebrations ...

in recognition of his services to local government. In 2009, McKee led a welcoming delegation to the Catholic

Ancient Order of Hibernians The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH; ) is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Members must be male, Catholic, and either born in Ireland or of Irish descent. Its largest membership is in the United States, where it was founded in New Yo ...

at Larne Borough Council headquarters in an attempt to boost cross community relations in the area in what was described as a historic day. In 2010 McKee condemned a

British National Party The British National Party (BNP) is a Far-right politics, far-right, British fascism, fascist list of political parties in the United Kingdom, political party in the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in Wigton, Cumbria, and is led by Adam ...

leafleting campaign in Larne regarding a new refugee centre being built in the town and accused the BNP of whipping up racial tension. McKee died on 24 January 2021 at

Antrim Area Hospital The Antrim Area Hospital is a general hospital in Antrim, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is managed by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. History The hospital was commissioned to create extra healthcare capacity in the Antrim area. ...

in Antrim.

References

1941 births 2021 deaths British amputees Democratic Unionist Party councillors Mayors of places in Northern Ireland Ulster Volunteer Force members Members of the Order of the British Empire Car bomb victims British terrorism victims British politicians with disabilities {{NorthernIreland-mayor-stub