Victor Halley

Victor Halley (born 1904)[1] was a nationalist trade unionist in Northern Ireland, from West Belfast.

A Presbyterian,[1] Halley was born at 19 Carew Street, Belfast on 15 January 1904, the son of James Halley, a soldier, and Julia McCormick. He joined the Independent Labour Party, and when this disaffiliated from the British Labour Party, he became a founder member of the small Socialist Party of Northern Ireland, an integral part of the Northern Ireland Labour Party.[2] He fought for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War.[3] and was also appointed to the editorial board of the Irish Democrat, a short-lived left-wing journal.

Halley soon became closely aligned with Harry Diamond, and in 1944 he was a founder member of the Socialist Republican Party.[4] He stood for the party at the 1946 Belfast Central by-election for the party, but was defeated by Frank Hanna.[5]

Halley was also a prominent member of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers Union, rising to become its Vice-Chairman.[4]

References
  1. Halley Family 1911 Census Form
  2. Notes on the Socialist Party of Northern Ireland
  3. Patrick Byrne, Memories of the Republican Congress 1934-84
  4. Matt Merrigan, Eagle Or Cuckoo?: The Story of the ATGWU in Ireland
  5. Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results: Boroughs: Belfast
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