born in newry, county down, fee was educated at st patrick's primary school in crossmaglen, south armagh, and st colman's college, newry before attending queen's university belfast. he worked as the editor of the "creggan historical journal" from 1986 before in 1988 becoming the parliamentary research assistant to seamus mallon, the social democratic and labour party (sdlp) member of parliament for newry and armagh.