Michael Ferguson (Irish politician)

Michael Ferguson (c. 1953 – 24 September 2006) was an Irish Republican politician from Northern Ireland. He served as a councillor on Lisburn City Council and as an MLA for Belfast West.

Michael Ferguson
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly
for West Belfast
In office
26 November 2003 – 24 September 2006
Preceded bySue Ramsey
Succeeded byPaul Maskey
Personal details
Born1953
Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Died24 September 2006(2006-09-24) (aged 52–53)
Cause of deathTesticular cancer
NationalityIrish
Political partySinn Féin
Alma materQueen's University Belfast

Politics

Ferguson was convicted in 1975 of firearms offences, kidnapping and bank robbery. He held a bank manager and his family hostage aimed at raising funds for the INLA. Ferguson graduated from Queen's University Belfast in 1989 and became involved in politics. In 1989, Ferguson was elected as a Sinn Féin representative on Lisburn City Council. In 1996 he was an unsuccessful candidate in the Northern Ireland Forum election in Lagan Valley.[1] In 2003, he was also elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly, to represent Belfast West.

Illness and death

Ferguson died on 24 September 2006 from testicular cancer.[2] He had spoken about the illness to the Belfast-based Irish News,[3] saying "Men are neglectful of their own health and do not visit their doctors."[4]

References
  1. "1996 Candidates - Lagan Valley". www.ark.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  2. "Sinn Féin members comment on the death of Michael Ferguson". Sinn Féin. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  3. "Sinn Féin's Michael Ferguson dies aged 53". rte.ie. 25 September 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  4. "Death of Sinn Fein assembly man". BBC. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by
Sue Ramsey		 MLA for Belfast West
2003–2006		 Succeeded by
Paul Maskey
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