New peace leaders

Press, 10 October 1978, Page 9

New peace leaders

NZPA Belfast A former Unionist assemblyman has been elected to lead the Northern Ireland peace movement. Mr Peter McLachlan, aged 42, a projects manager of the Peace People, yesterday became the movement’s new chairman. He was a unanimous choice. Mr McLachlan said his style would be “one of withdrawal rather than of being at the front of things.” Mr McLachlan — already on the salaried staff of the movement — has earned himself a high reputation by using his business experience to help bring in money through trusts and other projects. Mr McLachlan said at the conference that the organisation was nearly bankrupt. He is a former member of the Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, and has experience as a research

officer for the Conservative Party in England, His appointment became necessary when the former leaders, Betty Williams, Mairead Corrigan, and Ciaran McKeown, announced that they would step down.

Mrs Williams and Miss Corrigan, who set up the or* ganisation two years ago, said they no longer wanted to stifle the emergence of new leaders from the rank and file. “From here on we will be back working for peace where it really counts: at grassroots level in the poorer areas where fighting is still going on,” said Mrs Williams.