Patrick Gerard "Paddy" Wilson (c. 1933 – 25/26 June 1973) was an Irish
nationalist
Nationalism is an idea and movement that holds that the nation should be congruent with the state. As a movement, nationalism tends to promote the interests of a particular nation (as in a group of people), Smith, Anthony. ''Nationalism: Th ...
politician in
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
who was murdered by the loyalist
Ulster Freedom Fighters
The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) is an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 as an umbrella group for various loyalist groups and undertook an armed campaign of almost 24 years as one of t ...
(UFF).
[Chronology of the Conflict: June 1973](_blank)
CAIN
Wilson was born in Fleet Street in
Sailortown, Belfast
Sailortown was a working-class dockland community in the docks area of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Established in the mid-19th century on partly reclaimed land, it had a mixed Protestant and Catholic population. The 1907 dock strike called by ...
, the youngest of seven children in a Catholic nationalist family. He and his wife Bridget had one son, Paul. He was elected as a
Republican Labour Party
The Republican Labour Party (RLP) was a political party in Northern Ireland. It was founded in 1964, with two MPs at Stormont, Harry Diamond and Gerry Fitt. They had previously been the sole Northern Ireland representatives of the Socialist R ...
member of the
Senate of Northern Ireland
The Senate of Northern Ireland was the upper house of the Parliament of Northern Ireland created by the Government of Ireland Act 1920. It was abolished with the passing of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973.
Powers
In practice the S ...
in 1969. The following year, he became a founder member of the
Social Democratic and Labour Party
The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) ( ga, Páirtí Sóisialta Daonlathach an Lucht Oibre) is a social-democratic and Irish nationalist political party in Northern Ireland. The SDLP currently has eight members in the Northern Ireland ...
,
[Thomas Hennessey, ''The Evolution of the Troubles, 1970–72''. Irish Academic Press (15 November 2007), ; ] and its first General Secretary. He was also a
Belfast City Council
Belfast City Council ( ga, Comhairle Cathrach Bhéal Feirste) is the local authority with responsibility for part of the city of Belfast, the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland. The Council serves an estimated population of (), the ...
lor.
On 26 June 1973, Wilson (aged 39) and his companion, Irene Andrews (aged 29), a Protestant, were found dead. They had been stabbed to death. Wilson's throat was cut. He was interred in Belfast's
Milltown Cemetery
Milltown Cemetery ( ga, Reilig Bhaile an Mhuilinn) is a large cemetery in west Belfast, Northern Ireland. It lies within the townland of Ballymurphy, between Falls Road and the M1 motorway.
History
Milltown Cemetery opened in 1869 as part ...
. Loyalist
John White was later convicted for his part in the murders.
See also
*
Paddy Wilson and Irene Andrews killings
The killings of Paddy Wilson and Irene Andrews took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland on the night of 25/26 June 1973. The victims, Roman Catholic Senator Paddy Wilson and his Protestant friend Irene Andrews, were hacked and repeatedly stabbed ...
References
1930s births
1973 deaths
Politicians from Belfast
Republican Labour Party members of the Senate of Northern Ireland
Social Democratic and Labour Party members of the Senate of Northern Ireland
Assassinated politicians from Northern Ireland
Members of the Senate of Northern Ireland 1969–1973
People killed by the Ulster Defence Association
Members of Belfast City Council
Deaths by blade weapons
Date of birth missing
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