The Workers’ Party are deeply saddened to learn of the death of our comrade Tom French, former Workers’ Party President.

A lifelong member of the republican movement from Sinn Fein through to the Workers’ Party, Tom supported the Official republican movement’s evolution away from militarism in the 1960s. He was prominent in the civil rights movement along with his friend and comrade Malachy McGurran, and he later served as a councillor in Craigavon.

He was one of the founders of the Peace Train campaign to stop Provisional IRA attacks on the Belfast-Dublin rail link. Tom remained throughout his life a committed and fearless fighter for civil rights, socialism and against sectarianism, and a republican in the mould of Tone and Connolly. He served as President of the Workers’ Party from 1996 until 2000.

The Workers’ Party will remember our comrade Tom French proudly and with deep affection. We send our deepest condolences to his family.