WILLIE THOMPSON:WILLIE THOMPSON was an anti-agreement unionist and former MP who enjoyed cordial relations with nationalist opponents.
His gracious reaction to losing the West Tyrone seat to Sinn Féin’s Pat Doherty in 2001 won him respect.
A split nationalist vote had allowed Thompson to serve as Ulster Unionist MP for the predominantly nationalist constituency from 1997 to 2001. In 1997 he opposed then Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble’s participation in all-party talks, because of Sinn Féin’s presence. The following year he came out against the Belfast Agreement. This ensured his defeat by making him a bogeyman for nationalist voters.
However, he enjoyed excellent personal relations with Sinn Féin councillors while a member of Omagh District Council from 1981 to 1993. After 1985, Sinn Féin was the largest party and Thompson engaged with Sinn Féin councillors, who were even made welcome in his home.
Former Sinn Féin councillor Cormac McAleer said councillors who served with Thompson “could only have a good word on him . . . West of the Bann, the reality was that people from different backgrounds had to take each other seriously, and make the thing work. An amazingly good relationship was built up.”
William (Willie) Thompson was born in 1939 at Donaghanie in Co Tyrone to William Henry Thompson and his wife Catherine (née McClean). He and his twin, Mary, were the youngest of four.
He attended Edenderry Primary School followed by Omagh Academy. After school he worked for Tyrone County Council before leaving to establish a television sales, rental and repair business. This brought him into some of the most strongly republican areas of mid-Tyrone at the height of the Troubles. He was respected for selling good TVs at a keen price, being a skilled repairman, and treating all customers equally.
All the time he was an active unionist, on the wing of a party opposed to power-sharing.
Outside politics, Thompson held a deep Christian faith, and was a lay preacher strongly involved in the Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife Violet, twin Mary, children Wilma, Elaine and Paul, and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister Isobel and brother Albert.
William Thompson: born October 26th, 1939; died December 12th, 2010