Unusually for a unionist party , the UUP had a Roman Catholic Member of the Legislative Assembly ( MLA ) ( the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly ) , Sir John Gorman until the 2003 election . In March 2005 , the Orange Order voted to end its official links with the UUP , while still maintaining the same unofficial links as other interest groups . Trimble faced down Orange Order critics who tried to suspend him for his attendance at a Catholic funeral for a young boy killed by the Real IRA in the Omagh bombing . In a sign of unity , Trimble and President of Ireland Mary McAleese walked into the church together
Omagh bombing
Omagh bombing
Ulster Unionist Party