George Forrest

Who was George Forrest?

George Forrest was a Unionist politician in Northern Ireland who served as MP for Mid Ulster from 1956 until his death. George Forrest was the son of Joseph Forrest [died 22 February 1968 aged 81] of Gortagammon, Tullyhogue, Cookstown.

Forrest was first elected in the Mid Ulster by-election, 1956 which was called after two previous MPs had been declared ineligible to sit. Initially elected as an independent, Forrest soon joined the Ulster Unionist Party and successfully contested the seat in three general elections. He became a prominent supporter of Prime Minister of Northern Ireland Terence O'Neill's liberal policies and became reviled by many of O'Neill's opponents. In 1967 he was pulled off a Twelfth of July platform in Coagh and kicked unconscious by members of the Orange Order. Following his death, his wife Anna was chosen to take over his candidacy, but the by-election was won by Bernadette Devlin.