Francie Molloy looks back on over 50 years in politics

FOLLOWING his announcement last week that he will not be standing for re-election in the forthcoming Westminster election, Mid Ulster MP Francie Molloy has taken a walk down memory lane as he reflects on half a century of political activism and his work as an elected representative.

From the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s to being elected as MP for Mid Ulster in 2013, the Tyrone man has been at the forefront of both political and social change in the North throughout most of his life.

As one of Sinn Féin’s longest serving elected representatives, he played a central role in the party’s fortunes over the course of many elections, having stood for the party at all levels – council, Assembly, Westminster and European elections.

Following his announcement last week, the 73-year-old said, “Having been an MP for almost 11 years, I felt the time was right for me to step back from front line politics.

“I am very proud and privileged to have held this position and to have represented the people of Mid Ulster for so many years.

“I will of course remain active in Sinn Féin to support the work of all our elected representatives at every level.”

Looking back, Mr Molloy said that since he first became politically active in the Civil Rights Campaign, it is clear there have been major changes across society.

He recalls, “At that time, we campaigned for basic rights – the right to vote, the right to housing, for jobs and yet we were battered off the streets.

“I vividly recall the many protests, the rallies and pickets I attended.

“I particularly reflect on the photograph of myself among a group outside Caledon Courthouse during the case brought against those who took part in the sit-in at the house in Caledon.

“That sit-in was the event that brought a focus on the discrimination in housing.”

MAKING HISTORY

Mr Molloy also recalls a number of notable key moments when history was made, which he says he was proud to have been a part of.

“One such period of time was the H-Block campaign for prisoners’ rights and the hugely difficult period of the hunger strikes,” he said.

“Those days had a significant impact on me and many people across Ireland.

“Having been closely involved in Bobby Sands’ election campaign as director of Elections, I look back with immense pride in having played a part in that piece of history.

“It was hugely significant for the prisoners’ campaign at the time and hugely significant for electoral politics from a Republican perspective and for me personally.”

In the years that followed the election of Bobby Sands, Mr Molloy had his own electoral outing in the Prior Assembly elections of 1982.

Despite being unsuccessful, the Moy man said the returns highlighted the potential that existed and the support that was out there for Republican politics.

He continued, “By 1985, election success opened the door and I was elected as one of four councillors to Dungannon District Council.

“It wasn’t an easy time, but it was very rewarding to make a difference to people’s lives.

“I have always considered local council to be one of the most effective forums for making a difference to the everyday lives of people on the ground.

“I still work very closely with councillors and council officers and still believe they play a vital role.”

TRAGEDY

Mr Molloy also recalled losing a number of his colleagues and close friends to murder.

“I remember the late John Davey who was murdered on his way home from a council meeting 35 years ago this week. Many other Sinn Féin colleagues paid a similar price…

“In 1992, my close friend and comrade, Sheena Campbell, was murdered in Belfast. A young woman with immeasurable potential – a lost leader.”

As the peace process and political discussions surrounding the Good Friday Agreement developed, Mr Molloy says he was privileged to be involved in the work the led to the agreement.

Holding regular meetings with Mo Mowlam, who, at the time, was in line to be Secretary of State for the North prior to Labour coming into government, Mr Molloy said she was keen to hit the ground running.

“She had a fierce temper and disagreed with our position on many things, but she listened,” recalls Mr Molloy.

“She was always concerned that if they moved on Republican issues, that Loyalists would react.

“She was someone who was willing and able to argue her position and defend her decisions.”

Whilst the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement were historic in themselves, Mr Molloy states that the outcome changed the face of politics in Ireland and opened new opportunities to everyone.

“When the Assembly opened, it was very much a new experience for everyone involved,” he said.

“I feel that it reinforced my belief that we needed to be in there. As we got down to work as MLAs, we got offices going, employed staff and cotinued to do what we had been doing for years – repre-senting people who needed our help.”

Follow-ing the 2007 re-establish-ment of the Assembly, Mr Molloy was elected again for Mid Ulster along with Martin McGuinness and a young Michelle O’Neill who had worked along with him in his constituency office.

“The party nominated me to the role of Deputy Speaker and later Principle Deputy Speaker,” explained Mr Molloy. “Again, I felt hugely honoured, and felt that it was a recognition of the many years of campaigning and representation.

“I worked with many people during that time including the Speaker, Willie Hay. He was someone I felt was always open to finding solutions to issues and I can honestly say I learned a lot from him.” In December 2012, when Martin McGuinness announced he was standing down as Mid Ulster MP, he asked Mr Molloy to stand as candidate. Mr Molloy admits that while he was very happy in the Assembly with the role of Deputy Speaker, he also wanted to take the next move and follow in the footsteps of Tom Mitchell, Bernadette Devlin and Martin McGuinness.

In March 2013, Mr Molloy was elected MP for Mid Ulster.

He described it as a ‘great’ but ‘tumultuous’ time to be in politics, having watched the Assembly build, fall and build again. He concludes, “When I started out going along to Civil Rights protests in the 1960s, I never imagined the journey I would go on. Now, having been a councillor, an Assembly Member, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, and a Member of Parliament, I can truly say it has been a remarkable road.”