Davy Tweed
{{Short description|Irish rugby union player and politician (1959–2021)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = David Tweed
|image =
|alt =
|order = Member of Ballymena Borough Council
|constituency = Ballymena South
|term_start = 21 May 1997
|term_end = 14 February 2013
|predecessor = Frederick Coulter
|successor = Timothy Gaston
|birth_date ={{birth date|1959|11|13|df=yes}}
|birth_place = Dunloy, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
|death_date ={{death date and age|2021|10|28|1959|11|13|df=y}}
|party = Traditional Unionist Voice (2009–2012)
Democratic Unionist Party (1997–2007)
|otherparty = Independent (2012–2013)
UUCP (2007–2010)
}}
David Alexander Tweed (13 November 1959 – 28 October 2021){{cite news|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/rugby/former-ireland-rugby-international-cleared-of-one-child-sex-abuse-charge-575811.html|title=Former Ireland rugby international cleared of one child sex abuse charge|date=27 November 2012|website=BreakingNews.ie|access-date=27 November 2012}} was a Northern Irish unionist politician and Irish rugby union international.
He is alleged to have been a serial child sex offender despite never having been convicted of that offence. In 2012, he was found guilty of child sexual abuse and served four years in prison before that conviction was overturned due to the wording of the direction given to the jury by the trial judge. Tweed's family later accused him of domestic abuse towards his former partner and of sexual abuse of a number of her children and of other children to whom he had access.
After his death he was lauded upon his death as a "larger than life character" by members of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and by Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV).
As a politician, Tweed served as a Ballymena Borough Councillor for the Ballymena South DEA from 1997 to 2013.
Sport
Tweed won four caps for Ireland in the mid-1990s, with his first, against France, in 1995.'Injury forces Ireland's Cronin to withdraw', The Times page 40, 3 March 1995
Political career
Tweed was first elected as a DUP councillor for the Ballymena South electoral district in 1997.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgballymena.htm |title=Ballymena Council Elections 1993-2011 |website=Ark.ac.uk}} He was re-elected for the DUP in 2001 and 2005.
In 2007 Tweed was among six Ballymena DUP councillors who refused to canvass for the party in the Assembly elections because of the DUP's policy of sharing power with Sinn Féin.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Gang-of-six-refuse-to.2037474.jp|title=Newsletter – Gang of six refuse to campaign for DUP party leader}} Tweed attempted to resign in February 2007,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6406185.stm |title=Parties hit by more resignations |work=BBC News|date=1 March 2007 |access-date=29 July 2014}} Along with five other councillors he subsequently resigned from the party and redesignated themselves as the Ulster Unionist Coalition Party (UUCP).{{Cite web
|url=http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/Sunday_Times/arts2007/jun3_Ballymena_power-sharing__LClarke_Sunday-Times.php
|title=Newshound: Links to daily newspaper articles about Northern Ireland
|website=www.nuzhound.com
|access-date=1 May 2012
|archive-date=21 April 2021
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421205449/http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/Sunday_Times/arts2007/jun3_Ballymena_power-sharing__LClarke_Sunday-Times.php
|url-status=dead
}}
In 2009, four of the UUCP group left to join Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV),{{Cite web|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/uucp_members_jump_ship_1_1884555|title=News Letter report of UUCP defections to TUV}} but Tweed remained with the UUCP along with councillor William Wilkinson, head of research for the unionist pressure group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives until the latter's conviction for rape in June 2010.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/10465865.stm] BBC report of Wilkinson's sentence In November 2010, Tweed joined the TUV group on the council[http://www.tuv.org.uk/press-releases/view/804/tuv-welcomes-councillor-tweed-on-to-ballymena-council-team TUV press release] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130423225502/http://www.tuv.org.uk/press-releases/view/804/tuv-welcomes-councillor-tweed-on-to-ballymena-council-team |date=23 April 2013 }}, 6 November 2010 and was re-elected in 2011 to Ballymena Borough Council as a TUV candidate.
Tweed was a member of the Orange Order and belonged to a lodge in Dunloy. He was involved in protests relating to the Parades Commission's restrictions on Orange marches in that village.[http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news?articleid=3028493 Dunloy lodge hits out at 'Being denied rights'] The Newsletter{{cite news |date=26 February 2009 |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/tweed-and-his-lol-lose-appeal-over-parade-ban-14206777.html |title=Tweed and his LOL lose appeal over parade ban |work=Belfast Telegraph}}
Loyalist involvement
Between 1996 and 1999, Tweed was involved in the Harryville dispute when loyalists picketed a Catholic church in Ballymena.{{Cite news |date=2021-10-29 |title=David Tweed: Former councillor dies in motorcycle crash |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-59087471|access-date=2021-11-01}}{{Cite web |title=Former Ireland rugby international David Tweed dies in motorbike crash|url=https://www.thejournal.ie/david-tweed-dies-5587007-Oct2021/|access-date=2021-11-01 |website=TheJournal.ie|date=29 October 2021 |language=en}}
On 8 June 2006, at a Ballymena Borough Council meeting, Tweed said that he "questioned the upbringing" of a 15-year-old Catholic, Michael McIlveen, who had recently been murdered in Ballymena in a sectarian attack. He also claimed people linked to the victim's family had been involved in intimidation of Protestants after the murder.[http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2006/jun7_McIlveen_family_Tweed_comments.php McIlveen family Tweed comments] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303214524/http://www.nuzhound.com/articles/irish_news/arts2006/jun7_McIlveen_family_Tweed_comments.php |date=3 March 2016 }}Nuzhound
Legal issues
On 29 October 1997, shortly after his election to Ballymena Council, Tweed was fined at Coleraine magistrates court for assaulting a man in a pub.{{cite web |url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch97.htm |website=Conflict Archive on the Internet |title=A Chronology of the Conflict - 1997 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-10-10 |year=2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041010045233/http://www.cain.ulst.ac.uk/othelem/chron/ch97.htm |access-date=2021-11-23}}
On 22 September 2007, Tweed was stopped while driving a car under the influence of alcohol. On 21 January 2008, North Antrim Magistrates Court banned him from driving for a year and imposed a £250 fine.{{Cite web |year=2008 |url=http://www.ballymenatimes.com/news/Councillor-caught-drink-driving.3694510.jp |title=Councillor caught drink driving}}
Sexual abuse cases
In January 2009, Tweed was charged with ten sex offences against two young girls, spanning an eight-year period; he was acquitted in May 2009.{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/exrugby-star-is-cleared-over-10-sex-charges-14312516.html |work=Belfast Telegraph |title=Ex-rugby star is cleared over 10 sex charges |date=23 May 2009}}[https://archive.today/20120908050100/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Councillor-cleared-of-sex-charges.5295939.jp Report of Tweed's 2009 acquittal], newsletter.co.uk; accessed 3 May 2015.
He was acquitted on 27 November 2012 of one charge of indecent assault on a child.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20510864 |title=David Tweed trial; jury clears him on one count, 13 others remain |date=27 November 2012 |website=BBC News}}
On 28 November 2012, he was convicted on 13 counts of gross indecency, indecent assault of two young girls and inciting gross indecency, spanning an eight-year period from 1988 onwards.{{cite news |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/former-irish-rugby-international-david-tweed-guilty-of-child-sex-abuse-16243768.html |title=Former Irish rugby international David Tweed guilty of child sex abuse|work=Belfast Telegraph |date=29 November 2012|access-date=29 July 2014}} His conviction was quashed on 25 October 2016, due to issues around presentation of evidence of bad character. As he had served almost four years in prison he was not retried.{{Cite news |url=https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/pps-to-decide-if-ex-ireland-rugby-player-david-tweed-will-face-retrial-over-child-sex-abuse-claims-35276161.html |title = PPS to decide if ex-Ireland rugby player David Tweed will face retrial over child sex abuse claims |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-37768131 |title=David Tweed: Former Ireland rugby international child sexual abuse convictions quashed|work=BBC News |date=25 October 2016}} In November 2021 Tweed's stepdaughter Amanda Brown spoke on BBC Radio Ulster TalkBack programme of the sustained sexual abuse she claimed to have suffered at his hands. She questioned the appeal process and explained the reason she was unable to face a further court case. Brown called on the prominent politicians who eulogised him at the time of his death to reconsider their remarks. Her siblings also spoke of their experiences of Tweed's alleged sexual abuse.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0011kkv |title=Talkback - 19/11/2021 - BBC Sounds|website=www.bbc.co.uk}} Victoria and Catherine Alexander Tweed waived their right to anonymity to speak of this abuse.{{Cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/david-tweeds-daughters-reveal-the-monster-he-really-was-after-years-of-sexual-abuse-at-hands-of-late-rugby-star-father-41027613.html |title=David Tweed's daughters reveal the 'monster' he really was after years of sexual abuse at hands of late rugby star father |newspaper=Belfasttelegraph |via=Belfast Telegraph}}
After this conviction was announced the Orange Order terminated his membership of the organisation. The Royal Black Institution, of which Tweed was also a member, stated it had begun the process of expelling him from its membership.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20544249 "David Tweed expelled from Orange Order due to abuse conviction"], bbc.co.uk, 29 November 2012. Pending sentencing he remained a member of Ballymena Borough Council and of the TUV, although the party announced on 15 November 2012 that it had 'suspended' his membership "not because we doubt his innocence, but because this is what the party rules require."[https://archive.today/20130421012814/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/david-tweed-suspended-from-tuv-while-on-sex-charges-trial-1-4488146 News Letter], Belfast, 15 November 2012 The TUV noted that the sex offences related "to a period long before he was a member of this party"."Tweed remarks hurt family, says mum of murder victim", The Irish News, 30 November 2012. The TUV chose one of its unsuccessful 2011 candidates, Timothy Gaston, to replace Tweed as a councillor.Maeve Connolly, "TUV replaces sex abuser ex-councillor", [The Irish News], 16 February 2013{{cite news |first=Maeve |last=Connolly |title=TUV replaces sex abuser ex-councillor |work=[The Irish News] |date=16 February 2013}}
Personal life
Tweed was born on a farm outside Dunloy in Ballymoney, County Antrim in November 1959. He married Margaret in 1984 and they had four children; the family lived in Ballymoney. Prior to his 2012 conviction Tweed was estranged from his wife and had been living in Ballymena. Employed as an infrastructure supervisor for Northern Ireland Railways, he previously worked as a bouncer at a Ballymoney bar.{{cite news |url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/tweed-among-toughest-in-irish-rugby-1-4533897 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117080357/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/tweed-among-toughest-in-irish-rugby-1-4533897 |archive-date=2013-01-17|url-status=dead |title=Tweed among toughest in Irish rugby |work=The News Letter |date=28 November 2012}}
Tweed died in a motorcycle crash on 28 October 2021 in County Antrim, at the age of 61.{{Cite news |title=Former Ireland rugby international David Tweed dies in motorcycle crash |language=en-GB |work=Belfast Telegraph |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/former-ireland-rugby-international-david-tweed-dies-in-motorcycle-crash-40995945.html |access-date=29 October 2021 |issn=0307-1235}}
Following his death, members of his family and the victims of his now-quashed conviction spoke of the effect of his sexual and physical abuse on them.{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/davy-tweed-secondrow-four-caps-paedophile-wife-beater-bigot-1.4732721 |title=Davy Tweed: Secondrow. Four caps. |first=Johnny |last=Watterson |newspaper=The Irish Times}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-59350188| title=David Tweed tributes 'massively disrespectful to victims'| work=BBC News|date=19 November 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/paedophile-rugby-star-davy-tweeds-sister-still-lives-in-fear-despite-his-death-41075276.html |title=Davy Tweed's sister who has a history of mental health problems and suffers from memory lose says she still lives in fear' despite his death |website=Independent.ie|date=21 November 2021 }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ireland Squad 1995 World Cup}}
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Category:Ballymena R.F.C. players
Category:Democratic Unionist Party councillors
Category:Ireland international rugby union players
Category:Irish rugby union players
Category:Members of Ballymena Borough Council
Category:Northern Ireland politicians convicted of crimes
Category:Overturned convictions in the United Kingdom
Category:People from Ballymoney
Category:People from Northern Ireland convicted of child sexual abuse
Category:People from Northern Ireland convicted of indecent assault
Category:Politicians convicted of sex offences