Oliver Gibson

Who is Oliver Gibson?

Oliver Gibson is a founding member of the Democratic Unionist Party.

Gibson is a retired DUP councillor for West Tyrone. He also served as an MLA for West Tyrone in the first session of the Assembly. He is a former teacher and was an officer in the UDR.

His niece Esther Gibson was one of the 29 victims killed in the 1998 Omagh bombing.

In 1999, David Jordan, a former Ulster Defence Regiment soldier, broke down in a bar and claimed to be part of a patrol that killed nationalist councillor Patsy Kelly in 1974. Jordan also implicated Gibson in the murder. Jordan was never formally questioned in relation to the matter and no charges have been brought against Gibson.

In 2003, it emerged that Gibson was having an affair with his 35 year-old secretary Audrey McKenzie and was living with her in Ballybogy, County Antrim. His wife confirmed that he had left her and was no longer living in their Sixmilecross home. He retired as a councillor in Omagh District Council shortly afterwards.