Member's statement: Evelyn Edgar
Member's statement by Ms Diane Forsythe on .
- MLA
- Ms Diane Forsythe
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 4 March 2025
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Evelyn Edgar
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4832815
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Last Saturday, the kingdom of Mourne lost one of the most precious jewels in its crown: sadly, Evelyn Edgar passed away following a short illness. She was small in stature, but her smile and her heart and its reach were larger than life. Evelyn was loved so much by everyone, especially her family, whom my thoughts and prayers are firmly with at this time: her parents, John and Ann; her dearly loved sister, Sarah, and brother, Newell, who were more than siblings — they were all best friends; her brother-in-law, Gordon; and her adored nephews, Paul and John. The entire family circle and wider community will so dearly miss Evelyn, but they are grateful to know that, through her faith, she is at home with her Lord and that they will all meet again. Evelyn was firmly grounded in the Mourne Ulster-Scots heritage, and she took every opportunity to promote it. She gave her all to every organisation that she was in and did so in a quiet and unassuming manner, seeking no recognition. She would probably be completely scundered at the thought of my speaking about her in the Northern Ireland Assembly, but she deserves recognition for the huge impact that she had on so many lives in our community. Evelyn was a dedicated and lifelong member of Orangefield flute band for 40 years and the band's secretary for 30 years. Evelyn, in spite of her illness, was attending band practice up to two weeks ago and was delighted at the band's success last week in the Flute Band Association of Northern Ireland contest. Evelyn was a founding member of Orangefield Cultural Society and was hugely involved in doing the best for Ballinran Orange hall and the community, working hard behind the scenes and putting everyone else before herself. Evelyn was a stalwart, steadfast and loyal member of the Schomberg Society in Kilkeel, volunteering immeasurable time and energy to its Ulster-Scots work, which she loved. She was also a long-serving member of the Schomberg fife and drum band. Evelyn founded the Ulster-Scots women's group, the Highland Heathers, which, as chairwoman, she put her heart and soul into. She was even ringing up from hospital last week to make sure that the ladies had everything in order. She cared so much for others. Evelyn was a Christian woman of firm faith. Her testimony to the world was in how she was every day: loving, kind, unassuming, faithful, hard-working and a family woman. If only we were all more like Evelyn, the world would be a better place. On Friday night in hospital, among friends and family, Evelyn shared in the reading of Psalm 121, which is on the lectern of her own Ballinran Orange hall:
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help".
Evelyn will be dearly missed. She made a huge impact on so many lives in her too short a time on earth. My prayers are especially with John, Ann, Sarah, Newell, Gordon, Paul and John today as they gather in Mourne Presbyterian Church. I hope that they find comfort in knowing that Evelyn is safe in the arms of Jesus.
529 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.04 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (0.96).
- Subject area: Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy.
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.05 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.03 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.02 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.03 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.02 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.04 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 0.96 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.04 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.47 |
| Religion and belief (including people of no religion), churches, faith communities and religious prejudice (including antisemitism and anti-Muslim prejudice) | 0.43 |
| Sectarianism, hate crime and community relations | 0.05 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.03 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.01 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:02 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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