Albert Glenn BarrOBE[1](19 March 1942 – 24 October 2017) was a politician fromDerry,Northern Ireland,who was an advocate ofUlster nationalism.For a time during the 1970s he straddled bothUnionismandLoyalismdue to simultaneously holding important positions in theVanguard Unionist Progressive Partyand theUlster Defence Association.
Glenn Barr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Albert Glenn Barr 19 March 1942 |
| Died | 24 October 2017(aged 75) Derry, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1969–2017 |
| Organization | Ulster Workers' Council |
| Known for | Politician, loyalist activist, community worker |
| Notable work | Beyond the Religious Divide(co-author) |
| Title | Joint Deputy Leader of theVanguard Unionist Progressive Party |
| Term | 1975–1978 |
| Predecessor | Ernest Baird |
| Successor | none |
| Political party | Vanguard Unionist Progressive Party |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | Ulster Defence Association |
| Years of service | 1971–1975 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands | North-West Brigade |
| Conflict | The Troubles |
UDA
editInitially a member of a general trade union, Barr first came to prominence at the very start ofthe Troublesin 1969 when he was involved in an initiative to ensure Protestant workers did not join in strikes called by theNorthern Ireland Civil Rights Association.[2]He went on to join theLoyalist Association of Workersin the early 1970s and from there became involved in theUlster Defence Association(UDA). The loose associations of shop stewards that existed in Derry and the surrounding areas formed the basis of the UDA in this area.[2]Indeed, it was Barr who served as Brigadier of the North-West Brigade of the UDA, which would later be known as the Londonderry and North Antrim Brigade.[3]
Politics
editAround this time Barr also became involved inpoliticsby joining theVanguard Unionist Progressive Party(VPUP) and was elected to theNorthern Ireland Assembly,which had been set up under theSunningdale Agreement,in 1973.[3]As a result, Barr was the only UDA member to serve in either of the two bodies elected in Northern Ireland following the collapse of theStormont Parliament.[4]However, according to Ian S. Wood it had been Barr's profile as a trade unionist and community worker, rather than any UDA connections, that had won him the election.[5]
He soon became a leading figure in the opposition to Sunningdale agreement and effectively led theUlster Workers' Council strikethat brought about the collapse of the new power-sharing government.[6]Barr was chairman of theUlster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee,a group containingUlster Workers' Councilrepresentatives, politicians and paramilitaries that directed the strike. He would later comment that it would have been feasible to establish a provisional government for an independent Northern Ireland from this body.[7]
Always something of a maverick within Unionist politics, Barr served a three-month suspension from theUnited Ulster Unionist Council(UUUC) after endorsing the candidacy ofKen Gibsonof theVolunteer Political PartyforWest Belfastin theOctober 1974 general electiondespite theDemocratic Unionist Party'sJohn McQuaderepresenting the UUUC.[7]During his suspension Barr was part of a UDA delegation that made a fund-raising trip toLibyawhere they met withMuammar Gaddafi.Barr claimed when he returned that Gaddafi, who at the time was funding theProvisional IRA,had expressed a firm interest in providing money for an independent Northern Ireland.[7]The trip however, on which Barr was accompanied byTommy Lyttle,Andy Robinsonand Harry Chicken, was widely condemned by unionist politicians because of the purportedly left-wing nature of the Gaddafi regime whilst the same reason was used a basis byCharles Harding Smithto launch aloyalist feudagainst UDA leaderAndy Tyrie,whose idea the trip had been.[8]In the course of this feud, Harding Smith placed Barr under a death threat, although nothing came of this as the pro-Tyrie forces quickly dispatched the challenge of Harding Smith.[9]
When the VPUP split after leaderWilliam Craigsuggested in theNorthern Ireland Constitutional Conventionthat he would consider a power-sharing arrangement with theSocial Democratic and Labour PartyBarr was one of the few leading figures to remain loyal to Craig rather than decamping toErnest Baird'sUnited Ulster Unionist Party.[7]When the UDA intimated that it did not back Craig's position either Barr tendered his resignation from the paramilitary group.[2]Barr, who had exchanged angry words withIan Paisleyon a few occasions when both men were central to the 1974 strike, publicly distanced himself from the attempted strike organised by Paisley's United Unionist Action Council in 1977.[10]Along withDavid Trimblehe became deputy leader of the Vanguard and held this position until the party dissolution in 1978. He, however, did not follow Craig in joining theUlster Unionist Partyand instead returned to his UDA roots.[7]
Return to UDA activity
editBarr had been invited back into the UDA after the failure of the second strike, with a feeling within the movement that he had been proven right with his opposition to the failed initiative and so would be an asset politically to the movement.[11]Following the collapse of Vanguard Barr returned to a leading position in the UDA, becoming involved in theNew Ulster Political Research Group(NUPRG). Whilst there, Barr took a leading role in the production ofBeyond the Religious Divide,a document which sought to set out a framework for a move towards eventual independence for Northern Ireland.[12]Barr became increasingly disillusioned with what he saw as the callousness ofunionistpoliticians towards their electorate, and the blind loyalty of that electorate. He commented: "They could have sent adonkeywith aUnion Jacktied to its tail up theShankill Road,and we would have voted for it. "[13]Barr was also chosen to break the self-imposed media blackout adopted by the NUPRG in late 1978 when he gave an interview to the Irish political magazineMagillduring which he put forward the case for independence.[14]
The UDA, however, failed to recommend the proposals to its members and, as a result, Barr drifted away from the NUPRG, leaving politics altogether in 1981 to return to community work in Derry. Barr also had a somewhat fractious relationship with the NUPRG's chairmanJohn McMichaeland following Barr's retirement McMichael changed the group, abandoning Barr's pet project of establishing a cross-community Northern Ireland Negotiated Independence Association, and instead set up theUlster Loyalist Democratic Party.[13]
Later years
editBarr set up a scheme for disadvantaged young people by which they would receive low-wage employment and training under the government ACE scheme (later called theNew Deal). Both Barr andPaddy Doherty,who established a similar scheme in the CatholicBogsidearea, would eventually face criticism for what became known colloquially "ACE empires" as both employed very high numbers of youths on these poorly paid training schemes.[15]
Barr briefly emerged from his political retirement in 1994 when he joined his old friend from the strikeAndy Tyriein heading up an initiative to gain funding for theUlster Democratic Party.[16]He appeared set for a more active return in 1998 when he took up a seat on theParades Commission,a move roundly condemned bynationalists,given Barr'sUDApast, and one that saw resignations from the board in protest.[17]Ultimately, however, Barr himself resigned on 24 April 1998, along with loyalistTommy Cheeversnot long after the Commission had banned anApprentice Boysparade from the nationalist lowerOrmeau Road.[18]Barr continued to work on community projects in Derry, running the Maydown Youth Training Project Ltd, which seeks to alleviate the high levels of unemployment amongst the young in the Derry.[19]He had also worked closely withPaddy Harte,a formerIrish Governmentminister, on promoting awareness ofIrish Catholicparticipation in both World Wars.[19]
Death
editBarr died at Altnagelvin hospital on 24 October 2017 at the age of 75.[20]DUP MPGregory Campbellpaid tribute to him and the hard work he carried out in the community.[20]Sinn FéinMPElisha McCalliondescribed him as being "on a journey of reconciliation" and expressed her sorrow at his passing.[21]Social Democratic and Labour PartyleaderColum Eastwoodpraised his dedication to peace and reconciliation.[22]He was interred in Altnagelvin cemetery after a service at Ebrington Presbyterian church in Derry.[23]
He was married to Isa, with whom he had four children.[24]
References
edit- ^"Birthday 2005 Honours List".Archivedfrom the original on 17 February 2010.Retrieved31 January2008.
- ^abcRonnie Hanna,The Union: Essays on Ireland and the British Connection,Colourpoint Books, 2001, p. 74
- ^abH. McDonald & J. Cusack,UDA – Inside the Heart of Loyalist Terror,Dublin, Penguin Ireland, 2004, p. 66
- ^Hanna,The Union,p.77
- ^Ian S. Wood,Crimes of Loyalty: A History of the UDA,Edinburgh University Press, 2006, p. 29
- ^McDonald & Cusack,UDA,p. 75
- ^abcdeW.D. Flackes & Sydney Elliott,Northern Ireland: A Political Directory 1968–1993,Blackstaff Press, 1994, p. 93
- ^McDonald & Cusack,UDA,pp. 84–86
- ^McDonald & Cusack,UDA,p. 87
- ^McDonald & Cusack,UDA,p. 101
- ^Steve Bruce,The Edge of the Union,Oxford University Press, 1994, p. 101
- ^McDonald & Cusack,UDA,p. 105
- ^abHanna,The Union,pp. 75–76
- ^Wood,Crimes of Loyalty,pp. 69–70
- ^Susan McKay,Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People,Blackstaff Press, 2005, p. 347
- ^P. Taylor,Loyalists,London: Bloomsbury, 2000, p. 232
- ^'Legal challenge to Parades Commission'Archived12 November 2005 at theWayback MachinefromAn Phoblacht
- ^'Commission members resign amid parades row'frombbc.co.uk
- ^ab"'Community Relations Groups'".Archivedfrom the original on 13 October 2007.Retrieved21 January2008.
- ^ab"DUP's Gregory Campbell leads tributes to ex-UDA chief Glenn Barr who has died aged 75".BelfastTelegraph.co.uk.ISSN0307-1235.Archivedfrom the original on 24 October 2017.Retrieved24 October2017.
- ^Now, Derry."Tributes paid after Derry loyalist Glenn Barr dies at the age of 75 | Derry Now".Derry Now.Archived fromthe originalon 4 November 2017.Retrieved27 October2017.
- ^"Eastwood expresses condolences to family of Glenn Barr | 2017 | News".SDLP.Archivedfrom the original on 27 October 2017.Retrieved27 October2017.
- ^"Funeral for former UDA leader".BBC News.27 October 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 23 October 2018.Retrieved27 October2017.
- ^"Glen Barr to be buried on Friday".derryjournal.Archivedfrom the original on 24 October 2017.Retrieved24 October2017.