Ian McCrea was born in Magherafelt on 12 June 1976 and educated at Rainey Endowed Grammar School, Magherafelt.

He was elected to Cookstown District Council in 2001 and currently is the Chairman of the Policy & Resources Committee and has previously served as the Chairman of the Council 2007-2008, Vice Chairman of the Council 2005-2006, Chairman of Cookstown District Policing Partnership 2006-2007and holds a directorship of the Cookstown Local Strategy Partnership.

Elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in March 2007, he was appointed to sit on the Environment committee and until recently sat on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee where he has been appointed onto the Office of the First Minister & Deputy First Minister Committee.

Ian has steadily gained the reputation of being an active and hard working representative working day is centred on delivering the best possible service to the people of Mid Ulster.

Ian now lives in Coagh with his wife Wanita and their three children, Natalia, Lee and Alex.

Ian is Chairman of the Cookstown DUP Branch, Chairman of Cookstown DUP Local Government Association and is a member of the ruling Democratic Unionist Party Central Executive. He also maintains an active interest in sport being the Chairman of Coagh United Supporters Club and as a Christian is an accomplished gospel recording artist. He is also a member of the Apprentice Boys of Derry and a member of the Board of Governors for Coagh Primary School.