Patrick Aloysius Duffy (19 July 1933 – 19 August 1995), known as Paddy Duffy, was an Irish nationalist politician. [1]
Born in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Duffy studied at St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon and then Queen's University Belfast before becoming a solicitor. [2] He became politically active in the Nationalist Party, [3] then in the Unity movement, acting as agent for Frank McManus, the successful candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone at the 1970 general election. [2]
After the election, Duffy was a key founder member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and served as its first treasurer. [2] He was elected to Cookstown District Council at the 1973 Northern Ireland local elections, and then at the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election he won a seat in Mid Ulster, [2] which he successfully defended on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention in 1975. He also retained his council seat in 1977 and 1981. [4] However, he proved less successful on the national stage, taking second place in Mid Ulster at the 1979 general election. [5]
In the late 1970s, Duffy became known for his outspoken support of Northern Irish independence, [6] although he did concede that there would need to be some form of federal structure covering the entire island. [7] He objected to the arrangements for the 1982 Northern Ireland Assembly election, refused to stand, and unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the SDLP to boycott the election, [8] and called for its assembly members to withdraw after Seamus Mallon was disqualified. [9] Following this, he withdrew from involvement in the SDLP, although he was re-elected as a nominal party member to Cookstown District Council in 1985 and 1989. [3] [10]
Outside politics, Duffy built up a large legal practice, with offices in small towns across Northern Ireland. He was also active in the credit union and co-operative movements. At the time of his death in 1996, he was a member of the board of the International Fund for Ireland. [11]
He died on 19 August 1995, and was survived by his wife Mary and their three sons. [1]
Patrick Aloysius Duffy (19 July 1933 – 19 August 1995), known as Paddy Duffy, was an Irish nationalist politician. [1]
Born in Stewartstown, County Tyrone, Duffy studied at St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon and then Queen's University Belfast before becoming a solicitor. [2] He became politically active in the Nationalist Party, [3] then in the Unity movement, acting as agent for Frank McManus, the successful candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone at the 1970 general election. [2]
After the election, Duffy was a key founder member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), and served as its first treasurer. [2] He was elected to Cookstown District Council at the 1973 Northern Ireland local elections, and then at the 1973 Northern Ireland Assembly election he won a seat in Mid Ulster, [2] which he successfully defended on the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention in 1975. He also retained his council seat in 1977 and 1981. [4] However, he proved less successful on the national stage, taking second place in Mid Ulster at the 1979 general election. [5]
In the late 1970s, Duffy became known for his outspoken support of Northern Irish independence, [6] although he did concede that there would need to be some form of federal structure covering the entire island. [7] He objected to the arrangements for the 1982 Northern Ireland Assembly election, refused to stand, and unsuccessfully attempted to persuade the SDLP to boycott the election, [8] and called for its assembly members to withdraw after Seamus Mallon was disqualified. [9] Following this, he withdrew from involvement in the SDLP, although he was re-elected as a nominal party member to Cookstown District Council in 1985 and 1989. [3] [10]
Outside politics, Duffy built up a large legal practice, with offices in small towns across Northern Ireland. He was also active in the credit union and co-operative movements. At the time of his death in 1996, he was a member of the board of the International Fund for Ireland. [11]
He died on 19 August 1995, and was survived by his wife Mary and their three sons. [1]