McConnell was born in Bangor, County Down, and served in the British Army in World War II.
Despite being an independent, he was a supporter of Ulster Unionist Party Prime Minister Terence O'Neill.
[2] McConnell joined the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland alongside Phelim O'Neill and Tom Gormley in early 1972.
He held this seat on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention in 1975, and served as the President of the Alliance Party in 1976.
[2] McConnell stood down from his council seat in 1981[3] and took no further role in active politics.