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Regional secretary with the National Education Union
Terry Bruton, longstanding CP and NI Civil Rights Association exec committee member, dies at 86
Terry Bruton

TERRY BRUTON, a lifelong communist and former executive committee member of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, died after a long illness on Saturday.  

In 1971, Mr Bruton was one of the many Irish men and women who was “lifted“ by the British army and taken to Holywood Palace Barracks, where he was maltreated, as reported at the time in the Morning Star.

He was also an active trade unionist and a member of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa) executive.

In 1974, along with British TUC general secretary Len Murray, and other trade unionists, Andy Barr, Joe Bowers, Sammy Warden, Pearce McKenna and many others, he helped lead the march back to work against the Ulster Workers’ Stoppage, in which loyalists refused to share political power with republicans.

Mr Bruton fought for justice, class rights and working-class unity. He was a staunch supporter of Unity and the Morning Star.  

He leaves behind wife Kathleen, his daughter Linda, son Michael, brothers Barry and Michael, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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