Obituary - Peter Hadden, 1950 - 2010

Peter Hadden, 1950 - 2010, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)

A lifelong socialist activist in Ireland and internationally

LIFELONG SOCIALIST activist Peter Hadden, the Northern secretary of the Socialist Party (CWI) in Ireland, died on 5 May. Peter was also a longstanding member of the International Executive Committee (IEC) of the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI).

GARY MULCAHY speaking on behalf of the Socialist Party in Northern Ireland stated:

"It is with deep sorrow we announce that Peter Hadden died at his home in Belfast on 5 May after a courageous battle against cancer. Peter played an enormous role in the workers' movement in Ireland and internationally, and will be remembered with great fondness and admiration by the thousands of workers he struggled alongside."

Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins also paid tribute saying: "Peter was a giant of revolutionary socialism, whose brilliant analysis of the national question stands alongside that of James Connolly. How fitting he went out to the accompaniment of the mass resistance of the Greek workers."

Convenor of the Belfast Visteon workers, John Maguire, added his voice in tribute: "I would like to convey my deepest sympathies with Peter's family and friends and express gratitude and appreciation on behalf of all the workers at the Visteon plant in Belfast. It is unquestionable that throughout our occupation the support from Peter and his comrades in the Socialist Party was invaluable."

Jim Barbour, speaking on behalf of the Fire Brigades Union in Northern Ireland stated: "Peter's death is a real loss to the workers' movement. His experience, knowledge and unshakeable commitment to fighting for workers' interests were tremendous assets. Throughout our strike in 2002, Peter was rock solid in his support and without doubt gave us strength to keep fighting."

Contribution

Longstanding Socialist Party member and trade union activist Billy Lynn explained: "Peter will be missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him and collaborating with him down the years. But Peter's contribution to the socialist movement lives on, through his writings which are indispensable today in the fight against the savage cuts which all the parties in Westminster and Stormont are determined to inflict upon working class people. The greatest tribute which can be paid to Peter is to build a mass socialist movement to eradicate the gross inequalities and poverty in society, here and internationally."

Gary Mulcahy continued: "Peter played an instrumental role at times in assisting and building solidarity with workers involved in struggles, such as those at Visteon, Montupet and the Chelsea Girl strike.

"He also made an immense contribution to the development of socialist thought in Ireland and internationally, writing many books and articles which qualitatively enriched a socialist understanding, particularly on the national question.

"His consistent emphasis on the need for workers' unity against all forms of sectarianism in Northern Ireland inspired workers in many countries afflicted by national conflict, such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Israel and Palestine."