A people’s champion, sadly missed but never forgotten

Published: 24 September, 2010

• THERE are moments when letters are written with a heavy heart. The death of  Camden Labour councillor Dave Horan is one such moment. 

Dave died last week from cancer; he was in his mid-50s. As well as a councillor for Kentish Town ward in Camden, where this year he regained the seat he lost in 2006, he was also a case worker for Islington North Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, based at his constituency office.

Dave was manager and advice worker at the former Roger Casement Irish Centre, where I first got to know him. 

He remained close to the Irish community throughout the years. This included being involved in the Christy McGrath campaign in support of a Tipperary jockey, the victim of an alleged miscarriage of justice.

As a way of lobbying the then Lib Dem council in Islington against the closure of Islington Irish Centre some 10 years ago, Dave, along with others including Pat Reynolds, from the former Green Ink Bookshop in Archway, and Errol and Theresa Smalley, from the Guildford Four campaign, set up Islington Irish Unity Forum. 

A large public meeting was held at Islington town hall to address Irish community needs and to protest against the closure of the Roger Casement Centre.

He took on Irish travellers’ casework. I recall a meeting with a convener from the travelling community. Dave had arranged to meet him in a quiet pub as a matter of urgency. As this was a private meeting, I drifted to the bar, but I could see Dave with his notepad, taking on casework while off-duty.

I knew Dave socially as well as politically in the Labour Party, especially in the Irish pubs in Camden while listening to traditional Irish music. Dave was great at introducing people, linking up the various tenants’ groups and campaigns.

He had a wealth of knowledge about Labour movement history. His inspiration was the Labour leader George Lansbury and the Poplar revolts.

He had many links to campaigns and used that knowledge to encourage others to get involved in the community and various campaigns. 

He was a Labour councillor of the old school, part of the community he represented. I’m sure throughout the years he planted a seed of socialist principles in many people.

With the new Labour administration in Islington, some Irish councillors and others outside Labour ranks are thinking of setting up a committee to meet Irish community concerns. 

If such a committee ever gets off the ground, that would be such a fitting tribute to one of Camden’s and Islington’s very own people’s champions, Dave Horan. Sadly missed but never forgotten
Mick Gilgunn
Romilly Road, N4