Alistair Black

This article is about the Irish politician. For the Dutch professional wrestler, see Aleister Black.

Alistair Black was a Northern Irish unionist politician.

Alistair Black
Member of Craigavon Borough Council
In office 15 May 1985 – 17 May 1989
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Meta Crozier
Constituency	Lurgan
In office 30 May 1973 – 15 May 1985
Preceded by	Council established
Succeeded by	District abolished
Constituency	Craigavon Area D
Member of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention for Armagh
In office 1975–1976
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Armagh
In office 1973–1975
Personal details
Political party	Ulster Unionist Party (from 1984) United Ulster Unionist (1975 - 1984)
Other political affiliations	Vanguard (1972 - 1975)

Background

The headmaster of Carrick Primary School, Black came to prominence as the leading figure in Ulster Vanguard in County Armagh. Due to his outspoken loyalist views, the Irish Republican Army attempted to kill him in 1972 and again in 1975, when a bomb left in his desk drawer instead killed a police officer who was investigating.^[1]

Black was elected to Craigavon Borough Council for the Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party at the 1973 Northern Ireland local elections,^[2] and then to the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention in Armagh in 1975.^[3] He joined the United Ulster Unionist Party (UUUP) split from Vanguard and held his council seat in 1977 and 1981,^[2] but lost his Armagh seat at the 1982 Assembly election.^[3] When the UUUP dissolved, he instead joined the Ulster Unionist Party and again held his council seat in 1985.^[4]

References

1. David McKittrick, Lost Lives, p.551
2. "The Local Government Elections 1973-1981: Craigavon", Northern Ireland Elections
3. "Armagh 1973-1983", Northern Ireland Elections
4. "Local Government Elections 1985 - 1989: Armagh", Northern Ireland Elections

Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention
New convention	Member for Armagh 1975–1976	Convention dissolved