Derry Glen Barr

A trade unionist from Derry Glen Barr joined the Loyalist Association of Workers (LAW) in the early 1970s and then became involved with the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).In addition Barr was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in June 1973 for the constituency of Londonderry (1973-74) representing the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VUPP).His opposition to the newly established power-sharing Executive and the Sunningdale Agreement saw him increasingly assume an important position in the campaign against both by Loyalist paramilitaries and Unionists.During this period Barr's growing profile was clearly indicated when he assumed the role of Chairman of the Co-ordinating Committee which managed and conducted the Ulster Workers' Council (UWC) of May 1974.

With the subsequent collapse of the Executive along with its associated bodies, for a while he retained his position with the VUPP and was again elected to represent the party in the Constitutional Convention (1975-76).For a short time he served as its joint leader before the VUPP ceased to exist as a political party in 1978.After this Barr was once again to be linked to the UDA and although he was always to deny becoming a member of the organisation, was closely associated with it.Throughout 1978-79 he worked with the new Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), which had close ties with the UDA, and publicly supported its proposals for an independent Northern Ireland.In 1979 however he left active politics and went on to became involve in a variety of community projects.In 1997, in a surprise move, he accepted an appointed to become a member of the Parades Commission but resigned shortly afterwards in April 1998.

A trade unionist from Derry Glen Barr joined the Loyalist Association of Workers (LAW) in the early 1970s and then became involved with the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). In addition Barr was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in June 1973 for the constituency of Londonderry (1973-74) representing the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party (VUPP). His opposition to the newly established power-sharing Executive and the Sunningdale Agreement saw him increasingly assume an important position in the campaign against both by Loyalist paramilitaries and Unionists. During this period Barr's growing profile was clearly indicated when he assumed the role of Chairman of the Co-ordinating Committee which managed and conducted the Ulster Workers' Council (UWC) of May 1974.

With the subsequent collapse of the Executive along with its associated bodies, for a while he retained his position with the VUPP and was again elected to represent the party in the Constitutional Convention (1975-76). For a short time he served as its joint leader before the VUPP ceased to exist as a political party in 1978. After this Barr was once again to be linked to the UDA and although he was always to deny becoming a member of the organisation, was closely associated with it. Throughout 1978-79 he worked with the new Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG), which had close ties with the UDA, and publicly supported its proposals for an independent Northern Ireland. In 1979 however he left active politics and went on to became involve in a variety of community projects. In 1997, in a surprise move, he accepted an appointed to become a member of the Parades Commission but resigned shortly afterwards in April 1998.