file left being being The left in the party worked out that this would give them a majority of around ten on the GC Michael O'Halloran's head was now on the line. At the February meeting of the outgoing GC row broke out. This centred on accusations by the left that the MP had failed to carry out local party policy on Ireland, by failing to vote against tne prevendon or lerrorism Acr.
O'Halloran denied that charge and he and his main accuser, Mick Sullivan, ended up other bare faced meeting, too, broke up in disarray and the scene was set for the AGM of the GC held on 11 March.
When that meeting took place it began with the announcement of a batch of new delegates. These centred five delegates from the 1/723 branch and four TGWU I/725 branch All were supporters of Michael O'Halloran; what Ise they were has since become a mat ter of dispute Error Tommy McNamara was recorded Labour Paity in September 1979 from delegate Islington TGWU 1/723 branch. But six months later he was down in the books as a apparently a typographical error.
the same : a huge calling each That TGWU from the the licence.
North delegate from TGWU branch 1/725, For the 11 March AGM this year, building workers branch Why the right is known as the TWO Irish-based institutions in Islington have up to now proven Michael O'Halloran's most fertile ground. One is the Gresham ballroom in the north of the constituency.
The licence holder at the Gresham is Pat Shearan, a stalwart of O'Halloran. He is one of the six Labour councillors who have now gone over to the SDP All six appear to think highly of the Gresham. Last year they supported at a public enquiry an application Company accounts show that in 1978 the Gresham made a f2,000 political donation. There is no record of the Labour Party as such receiving this money, but whether it was used to finance the Labour right's own political cam. paigning may be another matter.
The second institution associated with O'Halloran and his supporters is the Islington-based building company of J Murphy and Sons. branch is based at Murphy's. O'Halloran was once an of fice manager at Murphy's.
Until now, O'Halloran has retained support in his local Labour Party because he has built a base of support among the large community of Irish people in the constituency His sup. porters have attempted to label the left's campaign against him as 'antiThe irony of this is that it is O'Halloran's alleged refusal to vote consistently against the Prevention of prove to be his downfall Me nas announced that ne nas decided 'to stay on and fight these people who are out to hi-jack our parFoot to request the latter's assistance in a Meanwhile Morgan Meanwhile Lear, the seciclary, is acting as for SDP local election candidate Pat Shearan, who is standing in Islington North, and for Douglas Eden, who is running against Frances Morrell in Islington South. Gresham for an extension of its drinking The controversial 1/723 TGWU