Mitchel McLaughlin

John Mitchel McLaughlin (born 29 October 1945) is the former General Secretary of Sinn Féin who also served as an MLA and was once the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Mitchel McLaughlin
4th Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office 12 January 2015 – 12 May 2016
Deputy	Robin Newton (2015–2016) John Dallat (2015–2016) Roy Beggs Jr (2015–2016)
Preceded by	William Hay
Succeeded by	Robin Newton
Principal Deputy Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly
In office 15 April 2013 – 12 January 2015
Preceded by	Francie Molloy
Succeeded by	Robin Newton
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for South Antrim
In office 7 March 2007 – 30 March 2016
Preceded by	Jim Wilson
Succeeded by	Declan Kearney
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Foyle
In office 25 June 1998 – 26 November 2003
Preceded by	New creation
Succeeded by	Martina Anderson
Personal details
Born	(1945-10-29) 29 October 1945 Derry, Northern Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Sinn Féin
Spouse(s)	Mary-Lou McLaughlin
Children	3
Website	Mitchel McLaughlin MLA

McLaughlin was born in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland and educated at Long Tower Boys School, Derry and Christian Brothers Technical College, Derry.[1]

He was elected a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Foyle in the 1998 assembly election and re-elected in 2003. In March 2007, McLaughlin transferred to the South Antrim constituency where he topped the poll during the 2007 Assembly election.[2] He was re-elected at the 2011 Assembly election.

After it was revealed that a consultancy contract on a new accounting system extended to 10 times the original budget, McLaughlin said, "I am very, very angry and I am very concerned that there appears to be almost a sense of immunity at the senior civil service level when these basic mistakes are made."[3]

The party chairman came in for criticism in 2005 when he said the kidnapping and killing of Jean McConville – one of the Disappeared – was not a criminal act.

He is married and has three sons.