 His father was the Reverend Professor James Loughridge Mitchell 'Jimmie' Haire (1909–85), who served as Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics in Assembly's College, Belfast from 1944 until 1976, principal of the college from 1961 until 1976 and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1970.His mother was Dr. Margaret Haire née Mitchell FRCPath.His paternal grandparents were the Reverend Professor James Haire (1874–1959), who served as Professor of Systematic Theology in Assembly's College, Belfast from 1919 until 1944 and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland in 1939, and Dr. Charlotte Eleanor 'Lottie' Haire née Mitchell.