Albert Sinclair Johnston (Berrie) O'Neill was born in 1930 in Co. Galway. He was educated at Wilson's Hospital School in Multyfarnham, Co.Westmeath, Mountjoy School, Dublin and later at Queen's University, Belfast.
Having joined the Bank of Ireland in Dublin in 1948, he was subsequently transferred to the Bank's Foreign Department in Belfast where, in 1969, he became its Manager. He was appointed Manager of the Bank's main Northern Ireland Banking office at Donegall Place, Belfast in 1976 when his signature appeared on the Bank's Northern Ireland Note Issue. He completed his banking career as Regional Manager (Provincial) and retired in 1990.
During his banking years he was, at various times, Treasurer of the Northern Ireland Council of the European Movement and of the inaugural Northern Ireland Committee of the Institute of Directors. Ever interested in sport he was invited to be a trustee of the Mary Peters Sports Trust of which he was, subsequently, Treasurer.
Amongst his activities in retirement were board memberships of Fold Housing Association and Ulster Community Investment Trust. As President of the Percy French Society he published, in 2016, ‘Tones That Are Tender - Percy French 1854-1920'