George Boyle Hanna

Who was George Boyle Hanna?

George Boyle Hanna was a Northern Irish barrister, unionist politician and county court judge.

Born in Ballymena, County Antrim and educated at Gracehill Academy, Ballymena Academy and Trinity College, Dublin, Hanna was first admitted as a solicitor in 1901, being called to the Bar in 1920, taking silk in 1933. He was a member of Antrim County Council from 1908 until 1921. From 1919 until 1922 he was the independent Unionist Member of the UK Parliament for East Antrim, narrowly beating an official Unionist candidate in a by-election, but standing down at the 1922 general election. From 1921 until 1937, he served as an official Unionist in the Parliament of Northern Ireland, first representing County Antrim and then Larne until his appointment as a county court judge for County Tyrone in 1937. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1925-1937. He only served as a judge for six months, dying soon after his appointment.

He lived at Cyprus Avenue, Belfast with his wife, Sunnie and two children - George Hanna & Mary Hanna who married James Barry.