Ex-Orangeman now a 'contented Irishman'
A FORMER Orangeman and RUC reservist - who is due to become a Sinn Fein MLA - believes unionists have nothing to fear from a united Ireland.
Coleraine councillor Billy Leonard was selected by the republican party last month to replace East Londonderry representative Francie Brolly.
The 55-year-old, a former member of the SDLP, will formally take his seat at Stormont next month.
Describing himself as a one-time "unionist with a small u", the Lurgan native now labels himself as a "very contented Irishman".
In a remarkable transition from Orange to Green, Mr Leonard is today a firm advocate of the ultimate republican ideal.
"I do believe in a united Ireland," he told the News Letter.
"I believe that partition was ultimately a bad mistake for Ireland as a whole and an identity was created that was compromised - witnessed by over four decades of misrule. Something that was formed on a sectarian headcount obviously posed problems both for the people that were dominant and for those that were dominated."
Stressing unionists have nothing to fear from such a political arrangement, Mr Leonard added: "The south has evolved over the decades of partition and I think there have been many moves where Protestants or unionists would be going into a society that would have equality and fair play at the heart of it. I know it would be a step of great magnitude but looking beyond to a settled united Ireland, I think Protestants would have equal rights in everything across the board."
While not tying himself to a date, the Portstewart man believes as the Union is evolving, politics here could change "very quickly".
"I am hopeful any such debate would be on a mature level and in a peaceful context where people would not be afraid to talk about it," he said.
Describing his journey from a one-time Protestant churchgoer to republican politician, Mr Leonard said his "biggest transition" was the move from being "born into a British-unionist tradition to being very content with an Irish identity".
"This in turn emanated from having a real interest in Irish history and politics. I would have been taught in a state school Irish history from a British perspective and would have questioned that.
"Over a period of time I became a very contented Irishman with a very strong Irish identity."
Mr Leonard recalls his decision to join the Orange Order as one taken "mainly as a young fella with a bunch of mates".
"I did not last a very long time. It just wasn't for me and I resigned of my own accord reasonably promptly," he said.
He admits his choice to join the RUC was a much "bigger one" - taken after having a conversation with friends as to how they reacted to the Troubles.
"I made a decision to make a contribution," he said.
"Ironically, my time in the reserve was part of a sharp learning curve as a young man. I saw sectarianism in the old RUC and one of the big influences in me leaving was when a couple of officers were charged with paramilitary offences acting in collusion with loyalist paramilitaries.”
It was this “watershed moment”, along with his new found Irish identity, which prompted Sinn Fein’s newest MLA to enter politics.
After initially joining the SDLP, Mr Leonard was elected as a councillor in 2001.
Describing his decision to leave the party three years later as the “biggest” of his life, he stressed his move into republicanism was for “genuine political reasons”.
“My move was reflected by thousands of voters. I think the SDLP had taken its eye off the political ball working towards the Belfast Agreement and was also failing in its engagement with grassroots politics.”
Admitting some Sinn Fein members were “asking questions” of his new alignment given his background, Mr Leonard says he has been “accepted well” into the party.
“To anybody who did have suspicions, I stressed my door and phoneline were open and I made clear I was going to put my head down and work hard,” he said.
Responding to those from a unionist background who would categorise him as “traitor”, he added:
“That is more a commentary on the people who would use such terms than a worry to me. Politics is about contesting ideas and the fact that I was born into one community that had certain political aspirations - because I do not accept that does not mean I should be called any such names.”
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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