Ian Milne

{{for multi|the Scottish rugby union player|Iain Milne|the South African cricketer|Ian Milne (cricketer)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Ian Milne

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Ian Milne MLA.jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| office = Member of
Mid Ulster District Council

| constituency = Moyola

| term_start = 2 May 2019

| term_end =

| predecessor = Niamh Milne

| successor =

| office1 = Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Mid Ulster

| assembly1 = Northern Ireland

| majority1 =

| term_start1 = 25 March 2013

| term_end1 = 1 December 2018

| predecessor1 = Francie Molloy

| successor1 = Emma Sheerin

| office2 = Member of
Magherafelt District Council

| constituency2 = Moyola

| term_start2 = 5 May 2005

| term_end2 = 22 May 2014

| predecessor2 = Patrick McErlean

| successor2 = Council abolished

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|04|08|df=yes}} {{cite web|url=http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/mlas/details.aspx?&aff=7279&per=3083&sel=1&ind=0&prv=0 |title=MLA Details: Mr Ian Milne |publisher=Aims.niassembly.gov.uk |date= |accessdate=2021-05-11}}

| birth_place = Bellaghy, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| restingplace =

| birthname = Ian Patrick Milne

| nationality = Irish

| party = Sinn Féin

| otherparty =

| spouse =

| relations =

| children =

| residence =

| alma_mater =

| occupation =

| profession =

| cabinet =

| committees =

| portfolio =

| religion =

| signature =

| signature_alt =

| website =

| footnotes =

| branch = Provisional IRA (1971–1992)

Fianna Éireann (1970–1971)

| branch_label = Paramilitaries

| battles = The Troubles

| unit = South Derry Brigade

| rank = Volunteer

}}

Ian Milne (born 8 April 1954) is an Irish republican politician from Northern Ireland.

Background

Born in Bellaghy, County Londonderry on 8 April 1954, he attended the same school as also future-Provisional IRA members Thomas McElwee, and Francis Hughes. Milne joined the Official IRA-aligned faction of the Fianna Éireann militant youth organisation soon after its formation at the age of 16, but the following year moved to join the Provisional IRA. He was imprisoned in Crumlin Road Jail in 1971, after explosives went off in a car in which he was travelling. After serving 18 months, he escaped in January 1973 and continued his involvement in the Provisional IRA. The following year, he was arrested in the Republic of Ireland after stealing a Garda car, and in June 1974 he was sentenced to five years of penal servitude in Portlaoise Prison. However, several months later he was part of a successful prison break, and resumed his activities in Northern Ireland.Ella O'Dwyer, "[http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/15659 Interview: Ian Milne - freedom fighter, public representative]", An Phoblacht, 24 August 2006{{Cite news |last=O'Rourke |first=Peter |date=2009-08-27 |title=Remembering the Past: 19 prisoners escape from Portlaoise |url=https://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/20552 |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=An Phoblacht}}

During the mid-1970s, the Royal Ulster Constabulary described Milne as one of its three "most wanted" men in the South Londonderry area, alongside Francis Hughes and Dominic McGlinchey. In 1977, he was arrested and received a life sentence for the killing of Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) soldier, James Speer, in Desertmartin on 9 November 1976. Serving time at Long Kesh, he participated in the blanket protest. He was released in 1992, having served 14.{{Cite news |date=2017-09-29 |title=Murdered soldier's family starts civil action against Sinn Fein politician |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/murdered-soldiers-family-starts-civil-action-against-sinn-fein-politician/36182480.html |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

At the 2005 Northern Ireland local elections, Milne was elected to Magherafelt District Council for Sinn Féin, and he held his seat in 2011."[http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/lgmagherafelt.htm Magherafelt District Council Elections 1993–2011]", Northern Ireland Elections{{Cite news |title=Constituency: Mid Ulster |url=https://elections.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ni-assembly-2016/mid-ulster |quote=Ian Milne from Bellaghy was co-opted to the Assembly to replace Francie Molloy in April 2013 and has sat on the Agriculture and Environment Committees. He was elected to his local council in 2005 and served two terms as chair.}} While on the council, he served two terms as chairman. In 2013, he was co-opted to the Northern Ireland Assembly in Mid Ulster, replacing Francie Molloy.{{Cite news |last=McAdam |first=Noel |date=2013-06-04 |title=Ian Milne: Sinn Fein Mid-Ulster |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/ian-milne-sinn-fein-mid-ulster/29325528.html |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}"[http://www.midulstermail.co.uk/news/local/sf-name-milne-as-molloy-replacement-1-4933015 SF name Milne as Molloy replacement]", Mid Ulster Mail, 25 March 2013 He kept this seat when he was elected in 2016.{{Cite news |last=Farrell |first=Nevin |date=2016-05-07 |title=Mid-Ulster: Sinn Fein dominate as all three candidates elected in first count |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/mid-ulster-sinn-fein-dominate-as-all-three-candidates-elected-in-first-count/34692374.html |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=BelfastTelegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}

In September 2017 Milne was served a civil writ by the family of James Speer for his alleged involvement in the murder.{{Cite news |date=2017-10-04 |title=Omagh lawyer serves writ on Sinn Fein MLA for UDR murder |url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/omagh-lawyer-serves-writ-sinn-fein-mla-udr-murder-1077633 |access-date=2024-07-19 |work=The Newsletter}}

In December 2018, he resigned as MLA to seek re-election to Mid Ulster District Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.midulstermail.co.uk/news/politics/veteran-republican-ian-milne-vacate-assembly-contest-council-election-211655|title=Veteran republican Ian Milne to vacate Assembly to contest council election|website=www.midulstermail.co.uk|date=17 November 2018 }} He was elected to Mid Ulster District Council in 2019,{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Connla |date=2019-05-06 |title=Election results: Mid Ulster |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/localelection2019/2019/05/06/news/election-results-mid-ulster-1613072/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |work=Irish News |quote=Elected: Ian Milne (SF) 1st count}} and re-elected in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Mullan |first=Orla |date=2023-05-20 |title=ELECTION 2023: All five seats in Moyola filled |url=https://www.derrynow.com/news/county-derry-post/1175205/election-2023-all-five-seats-in-moyola-filled.html |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=www.derrynow.com |language=en}}