OBITUARY - REDMOND O’NEILL
Redmond O’Neill, who was a key figure in Ken Livingstone’s mayoral administration, has died.
Ken Livingstone said:
“Redmond O’Neill, who died yesterday while undergoing surgery for a recurrence of cancer, served for eight years as my director on transport and public affairs in London and as Deputy Chief of Staff. He was one of the people who oversaw the development of the Greater London Authority from a small group of officials to a fully-fledged city administration during a period when London rose ahead of even New York as the number one city in the world.
“His work contributed greatly to that success.
“He was the day-to-day link between the Mayor’s Office and Transport for London during the period when London’s bus system was completely rebuilt and upgraded, when public transport use soared, when the congestion charge was introduced, and when the funding for Crossrail was secured.
“He was the link with London’s communities and established in London one of the largest programmes of celebrations of different communities of any major city in the world – including St Patrick’s Day, St George’s Day, Eid, Simcha on the Square, Diwali, Chinese New Year and many others. These helped make London one of the most admired socially diverse cities in the world.
“His work helped played a major role in reducing racist attacks in the city and ensuring community harmony in London after the 7 July 2005 terrorist attack.
“He was a person of great physical and moral courage. Even when originally diagnosed with extremely grave cancer he worked up to the last day before his first operation and returned to work immediately on his recovery. He was an outstanding servant of London and all its communities.
“Whilst he was tenacious in seeking to pursue a course in the interests of the city his personal charm and joie de vivre meant he was held in deep affection by the many who knew and worked with him.”
Condolences to family, friends and comrades who worked with him.
Comment by Eddie Truman — 22 October, 2009 @ 10:01 pm
Ken describes Redmond as “tenacious” and that is just one of the things I will remember about him. His absolute and unbending commitment to a life of struggle was, and will remain, an inspiration. There is much more that could and should be said about Redmond.For now, I only want to say that Redmond was a revolutionary and communist to his core. I was proud to call him comrade.
Comment by Mark Holland — 22 October, 2009 @ 10:49 pm
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Comment by Anon — 23 October, 2009 @ 6:09 pm
What a cruel and unpleasant thing for ‘anon’ to do when Redmond O’Neill’s loved ones are grieving. The very bitterness of the comment and its inhumanity towards those who feel differently to anon gives the lie to its author’s pretence that he is defending the interests of others - the comment is about the author’s own clearly personally highly bitter feelings towards O’Neill, not anyone else’s.
anon knows perfectly well that Redmond O’Neill’s closest colleagues and friends will not wish to have a fight on a blog thread when his death is so recent, or to argue about his claims, and so he has moved in to try to stem the tide of affection and the expression of real loss about Redmond O’Neill by pouring out this vitriol. He perhaps hopes to turn it into a sectarian argument or an unseemly fight over the memory of someone clearly loved by many. Or perhaps he just wants to hurt people who loved and respected O’Neill, his family and friends. That’s pretty twisted and sad.
Having worked with O’Neill at the GLA myself I don’t recognise the horrible picture painted by ‘anon’. Nor can I go along with someone who thinks the situation is better at City Hall now that Redmond, Ken Livingstone and others have gone. Many great colleagues are leaving, or being got rid of and staff are being culled. The person who wrote this seems to have become seriously politically disoriented by his dislike of Redmond O’Neill. Perhaps the person who wrote this is in the luxurious position of having kept their job at City Hall though others are facing more difficult circumstances.
anon writes: “For many PAs, portering staff and other non-political employees (at least those who haven’t lost their jobs as a result of Boris’s cuts) it is in fact pleasanter working for the present administration, who on a one-to-one basis do at least treat them with some basic civility and respect, which is more than O’Neill ever did.” I should think the people affected by the job cuts referred to here might feel that the person who wrote this has lost all perspective. Perhaps anon will consider whether he has the right to speak for all those staff and whether they really think what he attributes to them. I know people who worked with O’Neill including PAs who are devastated by his sudden death. Perhaps anon will consider their feelings. I doubt it, based on what has been published here. anon should speak for himself, not others.
anon finds himself in such a strange place that he has descended into an apologia for the those who helped Bright and Gilligan. In a choice like that, I prefer those such as George Galloway, Peter Hendy, Ken Livingstone, the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign, the British Muslim Initiative and others, whose comments on Redmond O’Neill can be found here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/davehillblog/2009/oct/22/blogpost
Comment by Georgiana Street — 23 October, 2009 @ 7:48 pm
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Comment by Lobby Ludd — 23 October, 2009 @ 7:55 pm
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Comment by Lobby Ludd — 23 October, 2009 @ 8:18 pm
Redmond was an inspiration. In the 26 years I knew him I never failed to be impressed by his tactical sense and his unfailing ability to see the bigger picture. He was a true internationalist who put the historical interests of the working class above everything else. He was a brilliant, motivating orator and I can’t believe he’s gone. The socialist movement is weaker without him and will miss him greatly.
Comment by leeds mick — 23 October, 2009 @ 8:49 pm
i think the editor should remove some of the offensive posts above
as, with sadly, too many on this web site they add nothing to socialist unity-so deserve no place on this site
whatever socialist action has or has not done- respect, if with occasional defiance and tough actions- is what is a cornerstone-these do not show anything like this -and the timing-sadly some of the so called left should be put in the dustbin of history- they contribute nothing to socialism- and they, like the bnp do not need/deserve a platform for their vitriol and pure hate on a web site like this- so please editor do the correct thing
your regular-respectful if opinionated reader and rclass warrior who sees progress and also too much rhetoric and poison-redmond like all progressives deserves so much more and not this web site as it is
Comment by sylvia ebberly — 23 October, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
now deleted.
Sadly, we cannot moderate 24/7, as we have lives to lead, jobs to do.
the unpleasant and sectarian nature of so many of the comments left here is a sad reflection of the British left as it really is.
They do not reflect our editorial policy.
Comment by Andy Newman — 23 October, 2009 @ 9:03 pm
October 23rd 09
Adams expresses sadness at death of Redmond O Neill
Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams today expressed his ‘deep sense of shock and sadness at the death of Redmond O Neill’.
Mr. Adams extended his ‘sincere condolences to the family and friends of Redmond who died on Wednesday afternoon during surgery, following a long and valiant battle against cancer’.
Mr. Adams said:
` Le bás Redmond tá laoch ar son saoirse na hÉireann caillte againne agus is fíor bhrón e sin.
It was with a deep sense of shock and sadness that I learned of the death of Redmond .
I want to express my sincere condolences and sympathy to Redmond’s partner Kate, his sisters Fidelma, Ann and Tara and all the very close friends and comrades who loved and respected him.
I met Redmond many times during my visits to London . He was a very dedicated and energetic supporter of Irish reunification, of the peace process and of justice and equality campaigns.
During Sinn Féin’s recent discussions around initiating a focussed campaign on Irish reunification Redmond played a very helpful role. Right up until the day before his death, he was advising and contributing to the discussion and bringing to it wealth of energy, talent.
His suggestions were insightful and have helped shape the approach Sinn Féin will be taking, and the structure and content of the conference that is planned for London next February.
As an Irishman, born in Britain , Redmond ’s vigour and enthusiasm for promoting many progressive campaigns and initiatives was respected and infectious.
Most recently, in his role as policy director to Ken Livingstone when he was Mayor, Redmond championed the promotion of London ’s St Patrick’s Parade and Festival which made it one of the largest celebrations of Irish heritage anywhere in the world.
His key role in this and many other endeavours, in supporting justice and freedom in Ireland and in other parts of the world, were widely known and underline why his loss will be so greatly felt.
Redmond was a kind, generous, and courageous comrade. These qualities are reflected in how well liked and loved he was by those who he met in both his political and personal life.
He will be remembered by all those who had the privilege to work alongside him.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time and we also remember, in happiness, his positive and exceptional contribution.’
Is measc laochra na nGael go raibh a anam dílís. ’
Comment by for info — 23 October, 2009 @ 9:07 pm