Victor Halley

Victor Halley was a nationalist trade unionist in Northern Ireland, from West Belfast.

A Presbyterian, Halley 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. [http://www.geocities.com/irelandscw/docs-SPNI.htm Notes on the Socialist Party of Northern Ireland] ] He fought for the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. [Patrick Byrne, [http://www.geocities.com/irelandscw/docs-RepCong.htm Memories of the Republican Congress 1934-84] ] 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.Matt Merrigan, "Eagle Or Cuckoo?: The Story of the ATGWU in Ireland"] He stood for the party at the 1946 Belfast Central by-election for the party, but was defeated by Frank Hanna. [ [http://www.election.demon.co.uk/stormont/belfast.html Northern Ireland Parliamentary Election Results: Boroughs: Belfast] ]

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

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