Paddy O'Hanlon (1944–2009)

Paddy O'Hanlon was one of the founding members of the SDLP party. He sat in the Old Stormount, was a highly significant figure in NICRA and was later a member of the Sunningdale Assembly. His political career was overshadowed by that of Seamus Mallom as they were both from Armagh. However O'Hanlon played an important part at times for the party. During the Good Friday Agreement talks he was approached by the party to give legal advice on certain significant aspects of the process, particularly with a focus on Policing. This is detailed in his biography. Any interested observer of the Peace Process and the GFA should make a study of the book. O'Hanlon came from a strongly Republican family, his father and uncle having fought in the War of Independence, coming to accept constitutional politics to represent his constituents and to try and defeat partition.… (altro)