I am one of 11 children and was born and raised in Market Street, Downpatrick where my father ran a clothing shop. I undertook my secondary education at St Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick,and Belfast Technical College where I gained my qualification as a Chartered Accountant and subsequently became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Before being elected to Westminster in 1987 I was involved with politics at the District level since my early 20’s.

I married Patricia (nee Swail) and have three children, one girl and two boys. My interests include Gaelic football, at a local level with Saul GAC and also County level, walking in the local Lecale and Mourne countryside and spending time with my family.

Political Career:

• Elected to the New Ireland Forum in 1984.
• Member of Parliament for South Down since 1987
• Appointed to newly formed Northern Ireland Select Affairs Committee, Westminster 1994
• Member of Parliamentary Groups on homelessness and the environment 1987
• Director and Chairman of the Social Democratic Group Ltd 1985-89
• Director and First Chairman of Jobspace (NI) 1985-93, now known as Down Business Centre
• First Chairman and former member of Down/Chicago Link Ltd
• President Down/Chicago Link January 2000
• Front bench member of SDLP talks team at the Inter-Party Talks in 1991
• SDLP Parliamentary Chief Whip since 1988
• SDLP spokesman for Housing, Environment and Local Government
• Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly Business Committee
• Member of the New Northern Ireland Assembly 1998
• June 2001, re-elected as Member of Parliament for South Down
• Member of the Policing Board November 2001 - 2005
• May 2005, re-elected as Member of Parliament for South Down
• Member of All-Party Group on Deafness