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Meet Our Northern Ireland Office

In response to overwhelming demand, we’ve created a Northern Ireland Advisory Council. Free speech is under threat across the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland is no exception. The Justice Minister, Noami Long, has announced that she will begin implementing Judge Marrinan’s proposals to create new ‘hate speech’ offences next year. So, if you’re a Northern Irish resident worried about being punished for exercising your right to free speech, you should join the FSU.

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Meet Our Northern Ireland Advisory Council

Born in Country Antrim where her parents were farmers, Kate Hoey served as Labour MP for Vauxhall in south London for 30 years and was appointed the UK’s first woman Minister for Sport in 1999. She maintained a strong interest in foreign affairs and gained a reputation for being one of the most independent, non-tribal members of parliament.

Baroness Kate Hoey

Jeffrey has held office in the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA) since its foundation in 1975 and has led landmark campaigns for gay rights and personal freedom. He was awarded an MBE in the 2012 Honours List for “services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Northern Ireland”. Between 2014 and 2019 he served as an Ulster Unionist Councillor to Belfast City Council and was chair of the council’s Diversity Working Group. He has written books on Roger Casement (2002) and H. Montgomery Hyde (2018).

Jeffrey Dudgeon MBE

Andrea McVeigh

Northern Ireland Advisory Council

Read Andrea’s Biography

The daughter of a Trade Union official, Andrea is committed to carrying on her family tradition of union activism. She has a Ph.D in political theory from the Queen’s University of Belfast and formerly enjoyed a successful career as a local journalist, broadcaster and commentator. Andrea now works in communications and brand management for global companies. 

 

Jeffrey Dudgeon MBE

Northern Ireland Advisory Council

Read Jeffrey’s Biography

Jeffrey has held office in the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association (NIGRA) since its foundation in 1975 and has led landmark campaigns for gay rights and personal freedom. He was awarded an MBE in the 2012 Honours List for “services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Northern Ireland.” Between 2014 and 2019 he served as an Ulster Unionist Councillor to Belfast City Council and was chair of the council’s Diversity Working Group. He has written books on Roger Casement (2002) and H. Montgomery Hyde (2018). 

Baroness Kate Hoey

Northern Ireland Advisory Council

Read Baroness Hoey’s Biography

Born in Country Antrim where her parents were farmers, Kate Hoey served as Labour MP for Vauxhall in south London for 30 years and was appointed the UK’s first woman Minister for Sport in 1999. She maintained a strong interest in foreign affairs and gained a reputation for being one of the most independent, non-tribal members of parliament. 

Ruth Dudley Edwards

Northern Ireland Advisory Council

Read Ruth’s Biography

Ruth Dudley Edwards is an historian, crime novelist, political commentator and an enthusiast for truth-telling.  She runs a free speech Facebook page and ignores libelous bile on Twitter/X.  Members of Sinn Fein have made unsuccessful efforts to silence her with legal threats.  Index on Censorship filed a media freedom alert to the Council of Europe over a libel case taken against her by senior Sinn Fein ex-IRA figure Gerry Kelly as having ‘several characteristics of strategic lawsuits against public participation’.  In March 2024, he had to pay her costs in his failed suit. 

Simon Chambers

Northern Ireland Advisory Council

Read Simon’s Biography

Simon has been practising as a litigation specialist and “problem solver” for nearly 25 years and is based just outside Belfast in Newtownards at Russell and Company Solicitors. Simon also practises in Family and Criminal law, conveyancing and commercial matters. He is a member of the Law Society Council. Simon is currently pursuing two gender-critical discrimination cases in NI in both the Employment Tribunal and County Court. 

Ben Lowry

Northern Ireland Advisory Council

Read Ben’s Biography

Ben Lowry is editor of the Belfast News Letter, the world’s oldest English language daily newspaper. He has written about how you can see, when studying the first News Letters from the 1730s, even the the emerging and expanding principles of journalism and open reporting and free speech. Ben qualified as a barrister in the 1990s, joined News International in Wapping working on their fledgling websites, became a journalist at the Belfast Telegraph in 2000 and joined the News Letter as news editor in 2007.

An invaluable support network

With You Every Step of The Way

At the Free Speech Union, we understand the challenges you might face and are committed to being by your side throughout. If you want to speak up about an issue that matters to you, you should be free to do so without fear of being penalised. We have helped over 2,700 people who found themselves in trouble merely for expressing a controversial opinion or for exercising their lawful right to free speech, whether at college or university, in the workplace or on social media.

If you’re looking for information and guidance, or are in need immediate help, know that our team of experts are here to provide assistance, resources, and unwavering support. You’re not alone; we’re in this together.

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