Bobby McKee

Bobby McKee, MBE (1941 – 24 January 2021)[1] was a Unionist politician in Larne, Northern Ireland and member of the Ulster Volunteer Force.[2][3]

McKee was a Democratic Unionist Party councillor and a member of Larne Borough Council since 1989.[4] He served as a Mayor of Larne in 2004 and 2008.[5] His brother Jack McKee, who died in 2015, was a DUP councillor in Larne and subsequently a member of the Traditional Unionist Voice.[6]

He lost both his legs in 1974 as the result of an Irish Republican Army car bomb when he was a member of the UVF.[7] A founder member and chairman of the N.I. Amputees Association he was also chairman of Larne Disabled Fitness Suite. Bobby was Vice chairman of C.A.B. and was a member for 10 years. A member of N.I. Housing Council for 15 years he served as a board member for 6 years. He received the MBE in 2004 in recognition of his work in politics.

In 2009, McKee led a welcoming delegation to the Catholic Ancient Order of Hibernians at Larne Borough Council headquarters in an attempt to boost cross community relations in the area in what was described as a historic day.[8] In 2010 McKee condemned a British National Party leafleting campaign in Larne regarding a new refugee centre being built in the town and accused the BNP of whipping up racial tension.[9]

On January 2011, he was involved in a car crash where his car went through the front window of an insurance shop in Larne. No one was injured in the incident.[10]