Jean Coulter

Rose Jean Coulter is a former unionist politician in Northern Ireland.

Born in the Shankill Road district of Belfast, Coulter studied at the Girls' Model School before becoming a solicitor's clerk. She also became active in the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). In June 1973, she worked with John Laird and Hugh Smyth to form the West Belfast Loyalist Coalition, which contested the Northern Ireland Assembly election, 1973.[1] All three were elected from the Belfast West constituency. In Coulter's case, she was co-sponsored by the Vanguard Progressive Unionist Party.[2]

In January 1974, Brian Faulkner resigned as leader of the UUP, and Coulter switched her affiliation back to that party, allowing the West Belfast Loyalist Coalition to become inactive.[1] In 1975, she was elected to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention as a UUP member.[2] Although she did not stand for election again, she remained politically active, calling for the Royal Air Force to bomb Irish republican areas of Northern Ireland, claiming that there were no "innocent people" there.[3] She opposed the Belfast Agreement,[4] and by the UK general election, 2005, was a supporter of the Democratic Unionist Party.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Ted Nealon, Ireland: a Parliamentary Directory, 1973-1974, p.196
  2. 1 2 West Belfast 1973-1982, Northern Ireland Elections
  3. ↑ David McKittrick, Lost Lives, p.746
  4. ↑ Suzanne Breen, "No room for ghosts of Northern past at UUP's time for historic decision", Irish Times, 29 November 1999
  5. ↑ Belfast South: Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll, Electoral Office of Northern Ireland
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