Tony Gregory RIP

I think anyone with an interest in politics was saddened to hear of the death of Tony Gregory at the weekend. A man of strong principle and courage, Tony Gregory was first elected as an Independent TD in February 1982. Previous to that he had been a secondary school teacher. He first caused controversy when he refused to wear a tie in the Dáil, claiming that many of his constituents could not afford ties. But he became a household name when he backed Charles Haughey for Taoiseach after both men conducted the famous “Gregory Deal”. The conditions for Gregory’s support for the Fianna Fáil minority government included a wide range of investments into North Inner City Dublin, the constituency Gregory represented. The range and scope of the plan showed Gregory’s commitment to the poorest and most vulnerable in Irish Society. This further manifested itself when Gregory and Councillor Christy Burke (Sinn Féin) spent two weeks in Mountjoy in 1983 for their involvement in protests in support of the street traders of inner city Dublin. As a street politician very rooted within the community Gregory fought a long battle against drug dealers and highlighted the scourge that drugs were reeking upon the population there.

When he died on Friday, tributes poured in from all corners of the political spectrum. A testament to the mans respect and popularity. I am sure that there never has been and never will be an Independent politician who will get the national affection and respect that Tony Gregory did. Unlike other Independents or quasi-party politicians such as Joe Higgins, Gregory never presented himself as a national politician who spoke out on issues on every corner of the island. Preferring instead to concentrate on working tirelessly within his own community, a lesson Joe Higgins should haven taken onboard. This insured that Gregory held his seat unbroken from 1982 right up to his death. Previous to his election as an Independent, Gregory was a member of Sinn Féin-the Workers Party and later the Irish Republican Socialist Party. However he spent his entire political career as an Independent. His death came about after a long battle with stomach cancer. He is survived by his partner and brother. With his death, so passes on one of the great iconic figures of modern Irish life and one of the greatest champions of the poor and downtrodden that this country is likely to ever see.