After working in banking, Roche studied economics and politics at Trinity College, Dublin.
This was followed by political philosophy at the University of Durham, where he earned an MA in Social Sciences in 1972 as a member of the Graduate Society.
They formed the Northern Ireland Unionist Party (NIUP),[4] and Roche became deputy leader.
During the debate, he called Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly a convicted murderer.
[5] Roche would later join the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), and currently serves as Chairman of their North Down Association.