Pearl Sagar

Pearl Sagar OBE (born 1958, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a former politician in Northern Ireland.

Pearl Sagar OBE
Northern Ireland Forum Member for Belfast East
In office 30 May 1996 – 25 June 1998
Preceded by	New Creation
Succeeded by	Role Dissolved
Personal details
Born	1958 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Northern Ireland Women's Coalition
Residence	Belfast, County Antrim

Brought up a Protestant, Sagar became a social worker in East Belfast,[1] and married a soldier in the British Army.[2]

In 1996, she joined with Monica McWilliams in petitioning established political parties to include women among their candidates for the Northern Ireland Forum. After receiving little response, they founded the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition, to stand in the election themselves.[1] Sagar was second on the party's list in East Belfast, but failed to be elected.[3] However, as the party took ninth place overall in the election, it was entitled to two top-up seats, and it gave one to Sagar.[4]

Sagar stood unsuccessfully for Belfast City Council in 1997,[5] and she was again unsuccessful in East Belfast in the 1998 Northern Ireland Assembly election. [6] Following her defeat, she became a consultant to the Vital Voices project.

She was made an OBE in the New Year's Honours.[2]

References

1. Tiffany Danitz, "Raising voices for peace in Ireland - Northern Ireland Women's Coalition", Insight on the News, 1 December 1997
2. "Women's champion voices her delight", Belfast Telegraph, 31 December 1998
3. "1996 Forum Elections: Candidates in East Belfast", Northern Ireland Elections
4. "The 1996 Forum Elections and the Peace Process", Northern Ireland Elections
5. "Belfast City Council Elections 1993-2005", Northern Ireland Elections
6. "East Belfast", Northern Ireland Elections