Bobby McKee

Bobby McKee was a Northern Irish Ulster loyalist politician and former member of the Ulster Volunteer Force, from Larne.

Background

McKee was a Democratic Unionist Party councillor and a member of Larne Borough Council from 1989 to 2015. He served as a Mayor of Larne in 2004 and 2008. His brother Jack McKee, who died in 2015, was a DUP councillor in Larne and subsequently a member of the Traditional Unionist Voice.
He lost both his legs in 1974 as the result of an Provisional [Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA] car bomb when he was a member of the UVF. A founder member and chairman of the N.I. Amputees Association he was also chairman of Larne Disabled Fitness Suite. Bobby was Vice chairman of C.A.B. and was a member for 10 years. A member of N.I. Housing Council for 15 years he served as a board member for 6 years. He received an MBE in Queen Elizabeth II's 2004 New Year Honours in recognition of his services to local government.
In 2009, McKee led a welcoming delegation to the Catholic Ancient Order of Hibernians at Larne Borough Council headquarters in an attempt to boost cross community relations in the area in what was described as a historic day. In 2010 McKee condemned a British National Party leafleting campaign in Larne regarding a new refugee centre being built in the town and accused the BNP of whipping up racial tension.
McKee died on 24 January 2021 at Antrim Area Hospital in Antrim.