David Ervine
| David Ervine | |
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| Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party |
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In office 2002–2007 |
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| Preceded by | Hugh Smyth |
| Succeeded by | Dawn Purvis |
| Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for Belfast East |
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In office 25 June 1998 – 8 January 2007 |
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| Preceded by | New Creation |
| Succeeded by | Dawn Purvis |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
21 July 1953 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Died | 8 January 2007 (aged 53) Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Progressive Unionist Party |
| Spouse(s) | Jeanette Cunningham (1971) |
| Children | Mark Owen |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Website | PUP |
David Ervine (21 July 1953 – 8 January 2007) was a Northern Irish unionist politician from Northern Ireland and the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP). During his youth Ervine was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and was imprisoned for possessing bomb-making equipment. Whilst in jail he became convinced of the benefits of a more political approach for Ulster loyalism and became involved with the PUP. As a leading PUP figure, Ervine helped to deliver the loyalist ceasefire of 1994.
David Ervine was the youngest of five children born to Walter and Elizabeth Ervine, and raised in a Protestant working-class area of east Belfast between the Albertbridge and Newtownards roads. His household was not loyalist at all, his father Walter described himself as a socialist, had no time for Ian Paisley and didn't attend church. When Ervine joined the Orange Order aged 18, he said he was the first member of his family to ever be a member. His membership however didn't last long. Like many in his situation, he grew up closely identifying with his community and absorbed the Ulster Unionism ideals and opinions that go along with this identity. He left Orangefield High School at 14, and at the age of 19 Ervine joined the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), believing this to be the only way to ensure the defence of the Protestant community after the events of Bloody Friday. A neighbour of Ervine's who was a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) William Irvine, had died in one of the bomb blasts on Bloody Friday. Before joining the UVF Ervine had attempted to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), but due to a misdemeanour in his childhood involving a stolen bicycle, he was refused entry.
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