The Derryman who ran the elections in Northern Eire throughout The Troubles – earlier than occurring to work as an electoral advisor for the UN and EU around the globe – has written a e book about his experiences.
‘Ballots, Bombs and Bullets’ is the memoir of former NI Chief Electoral Officer Pat Bradley. The e book is the story of how somebody with no background and little or no coaching in electoral regulation and course of discovered himself answerable for Northern Eire’s elections at its most difficult time – turning into a recognised world professional within the course of.
Bradley’s exceptional profession had two distinct and overlapping phases which the e book outlines intimately. The primary noticed him tasked with operating elections in Northern Eire all through The Troubles – the place he saved electoral democracy getting into a society teetering on the sting of civil battle. On account of his work and experiences in NI Bradley turned a recognised international professional in elections and battle decision. That noticed the UN, EU and UK International & Commonwealth Workplace beat a path to his door to safe his assist in operating elections in troubled hotspots and rising democracies around the globe. So commenced the second section of his profession, the place he served as a senior/lead technical advisor in elections in 30 international locations and 5 continents – from South Africa to Saudi Arabia, Kosovo to Hong Kong, and Russia to Lebanon. All of which noticed him awarded an MBE in 1986 and a CBE in 1999 ‘For Service to the Electoral Course of’.
The primary a part of the e book outlines how, regardless of his clear lack of related expertise or prior data for the function, Bradley secured a job in 1973 as a Deputy Electoral Officer for a big chunk of the West of NI. He was primarily based in his dwelling metropolis of Derry, which was badly affected by The Troubles and a difficult place to run elections – with paramilitary teams decided to undermine or cease the democratic course of. A beforehand untold perception revealed within the e book is that – at this very interval when it was important to make sure democracy labored and was seen to work in NI – its electoral infrastructure was an organisational shambles. When Bradley began his job he was given subsequent to no coaching, and found that many of the different Deputy Electoral Officers throughout NI had reluctantly taken the function to see out their years within the public sector – with little intention of really doing a lot work. Bradley additionally discovered he had inadequate employees assist and no appropriate places of work to work from, and that the fundamental supplies wanted to run elections (e.g. poll packing containers and many others) had been saved in a rusting shed in Bushmills – 40 miles away from his Derry base. Inside weeks of beginning the job – and nonetheless with none coaching, backup or services – he was thrown in on the deep-end by the sudden announcement of the February 1974 Basic Election. It was to be the primary of many elections Pat organised in difficult circumstances over the subsequent 26 years. In 1980 he was promoted to the function of Chief electoral Officer for all of Northern Eire, with the buck stopping with him for elections over the next twenty years.
A collection of key elections affecting NI’s future came about throughout his time in workplace – from the election of Starvation Striker Bobby Sands in 1981, to the Discussion board elections in 1996 and the Good Friday Settlement referendum in 1998. ‘Ballots, Bombs and Bullets’ provides many desirable insights and anecdotes into what was concerned in operating elections in Northern Eire all through the Troubles – from a 200lb bomb left reverse Bradley’s workplace desk, to the time he evacuated his employees by armoured automotive from a polling station that was below assault earlier than taking their place to make sure it remained open so the election could possibly be deemed legitimate. The e book additionally tackles the thorny situation of voter fraud and ‘personation’ in NI – outlining the lengths some folks went to to indulge within the practise, and the consistently evolving responses required to deal with it. It additionally shines a lightweight on the casual ‘gentleman’s settlement’ that existed between nationalist and unionist events in NI with regards voter impersonation – with each side engaged within the act – till the practise grew to such an industrial scale that Bradley was in a position to persuade Westminster to take motion. Bradley (who was formally an unbiased public officer) additionally challenged and received a authorized tussle with Margaret Thatcher after she declared to parliament that he would observe a selected plan of action which he didn’t agree with.
Of the numerous elections Pat Bradley labored on, the 1998 Good Friday Settlement Referendum was undoubtedly his magnum opus. It was essential to the whole Peace Course of that the way in which the referendum was run was past reproach (particularly with excessive profile opponents to the Settlement’s success). Bradley went to nice lengths to make sure it was run in a watertight method – even agreeing to sleep in a single day with the finished poll packing containers to assuage Ian Paisley of his paranoia that the State would possibly search to intervene with them. And he was memorably broadcast around the globe as he introduced the “71.12%” results of the Good Friday Referendum in footage that’s nonetheless recurrently screened to at the present time (and featured within the closing episode of Derry Ladies). To Bradley’s credit score the legitimacy of the referendum and its outcome has by no means been questioned – both on the time or since – in part of the world the place just about something political will get challenged. It was a not insignificant contribution to making sure that the trail in direction of peace may proceed to be adopted inside NI. The Secretary of State on the time wrote to Bradley stating that: “The organisation and administration of the elections was a very formidable activity, however one which you carried out with exceptional ability. Its success is an actual testomony to your experience, dedication and distinctive capability”.
After overlaying Pat’s 26yrs operating elections in NI, ‘Poll’s, Bombs and Bullets’ then goes on to explain how the data and experience he had acquired in Northern Eire was extremely wanted by main worldwide organisations of their makes an attempt to introduce or improve democracy in areas of battle. Each earlier than and after he retired as Chief Electoral Officer in 2000, Bradley spent numerous years advising on elections in over 30 international locations around the globe. He was a Technical Advisor within the first full democratic elections held in South Africa in 1994 during which Nelson Mandela (who Pat met twice) was elected, in addition to the primary democratic elections held in numerous post-Communist European nations, together with Russia. Within the technique of his work Pat rubbed shoulders with Presidents in locations like South Africa, Bosnia and Kyrgyzstan, and was even shot at in East Timor. A top level view of Pat’s experiences in 20 international locations is offered within the e book, full with particulars of assorted comical conditions and shut shaves he encountered within the course of.
In addition to outlining Pat Bradley’s 30 yr expertise operating elections in NI and elsewhere, the e book additionally has a chapter that gives background data on sorts of democractic governance, voting methods, eligibility to vote, electoral boundaries, expenditure guidelines for candidates, counting and asserting election outcomes and many others.
Former Northern Eire Ombudsman and present Deputy Chair of the NI Policing Board Tom Frawley has written the foreword to ‘Ballots, Bombs & Bullets’. He commented “This e book is vital as a result of it supplies a birds-eye view and a private perspective into the life and occasions of a senior public servant, who occupied a pivotal function in one of many essential strands of our public life – overseeing the cycle of elections that finally took us to the Good Friday Settlement referendum and the brand new Meeting. Within the technique of which Pat turned the go-to particular person for worldwide organisations once they wished to run elections in such contested areas because the Balkans, East Timor, the Center East and plenty of extra. Pat Bradley for me warrants our recognition for a lifetime of public service devoted to the folks of Northern Eire and past”.
‘Ballots, Bombs and Bullets’ can be of be aware to anybody with an curiosity in current Northern Eire historical past, elections and worldwide makes an attempt to introduce democracy. The e book prices £15 and may be purchased on-line right here : Ballots Bombs and Bullets E book Pat Bradley 2022 | Etsy UK or in book format from Amazon. Additionally it is accessible in Belfast from No Alibis e book store (Botanic Ave) and in Derry from Little Acorns Bookstore (Foyle Avenue) and Foyle Books (Craft Village).
Steve Bradley is a commentator and regeneration advisor from Derry. He may be adopted on Twitter: @Bradley_Steve
