Paddy Wilson

Who was Paddy Wilson?

Patrick Gerard Wilson, known as Paddy Wilson was a politician in Northern Ireland who was killed by the "Ulster Freedom Fighters", a covername used by the Ulster Defence Association.

Wilson was born in Fleet Street in Belfast's Sailortown area, and was the youngest of seven children. He was raised in the Roman Catholic religion. He married Bridget and had one son, Paul. Wilson was elected as a Republican Labour Party member of the Senate of Northern Ireland in 1969. The following year, he became a founder member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, and its first General Secretary. He was also a Belfast city councillor.

In 1973, Wilson was hacked to death and had his throat slit in one of the most brutal murders of Northern Ireland's 'Troubles' along with his Protestant friend, Irene Andrews. Following his funeral, which was attending by many of Northern Ireland's leading politicians, Wilson was buried in Belfast's Milltown Cemetery. John White was later convicted for his part in the murders.