David McIlveen

David McIlveen MLA
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for North Antrim
Incumbent
Assumed office 2011
Preceded by	Ian Paisley
Personal details
Born	11 February 1981
Nationality	British
Political party	Democratic Unionist Party
Religion	Free Presbyterian

David McIlveen is a Democratic Unionist Party politician in Northern Ireland who was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly for the North Antrim constituency in 2011.^[1] He is the son of Rev. David McIlveen, a well-known minister in the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster^[2] who has been a leading figure in that church's campaigns against homosexuality^[3] and has since retired.^[4]

After welcoming the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, he made remarks to The Newsletter insinuating Palestinian prisoners were better treated than Israelis.^[5] Timothy Houston of Queen's University Belfast Palestine Solidarity Society published an open letter accusing McIlveen of bias and over-looking human rights abuses.^[6] David McIlveen claims "close ties with Israel" following boyhood visits with his father, and is due to visit the region with leading Unionists in 2013.^[7]

As at August 2015, he is a Political Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.^[8]

References

1. Mary Minihan (7 May 2011). "McGuinness irked by Mid-Ulster delay". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
2. David McIlveen DUP North Antrim
3. Statement from Rev. McIlveen
4. Poole, Amanda. "The Belfast Telegraph 'Sodomy' protest preacher David McIlveen retires". The Belfast Telegraph. The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
5. "MLA’s relief over Shalit’s safe release". The NewsLetter. 19 Oct 2011. Retrieved 5 Jan 2013.
6. Houston, Timothy (3 March 2012). "DUPlicitous propaganda: An open letter to David McIlveen DUP ...". QUB Palestinian Society/Politics.ie. Retrieved 5 Jan 2013.
7. McIlveen, David. "Israel - The Story So Far". Retrieved 5 Jan 2013.
8. "The Board". Retrieved 22 August 2015.