The "senseless murder" of one of the SDLP's founding members will be remembered on Monday with a commemoration service at Stormont.
Members of Senator Paddy Wilson's family will join SDLP representatives to honour the contribution he made to politics before the "cruel cutting short" of his life by loyalist paramilitaries in 1973.
Stabbed 32 times, he was murdered alongside his friend Irene Andrews, who was stabbed 19 times.
Speaking ahead of the service, SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole told The Irish News that Senator Wilson "holds a special place in the history" of the party.
Originally from the Fleet Street area of Sailortown in Belfast, he was the youngest of seven children in a Catholic nationalist family.
He was elected as a Republican Labour Party member of the Senate of Northern Ireland in 1969 and the following year became a founder member of the SDLP.
He became the party's first general secretary as well as serving on Belfast City Council. He was also the election agent for SDLP leader Gerry Fitt.
On 26 June 1973, Senator Wilson - who was aged 39 and married with one son - had been at the Old Vic Lounge inside McGlade's Bar, a pub located in Donegall Street in Belfast.
He was with Ms Andrews (29), a Protestant, who worked as a clerk in the Department of Education and was a talented ballroom dancer and member of Northern Ireland's "Come Dancing" team.
The pair left the bar in Senator Wilson's red Mini around 11.30pm after he had offered her a lift home to the Crumlin Road.
But at 1.30am, the loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), using their codename 'Captain Black', called the Belfast News Letter and said "tonight we have got Senator Paddy Wilson and a lady friend".
"Their bodies are lying in the Hightown Road," the statement added.
The two bodies were found at a quarry off the Hightown Road near Cavehill at around 4am.
They had both been stabbed to death.
Reports at the time suggested that Senator Wilson's car was stopped close to Ballysillan and they were forced at gunpoint to drive to the quarry.
It was also suggested that Senator Wilson was dragged from the vehicle and pinned to the ground where he was stabbed and Ms Andrews was killed afterwards.
There was widespread condemnation of the killings.
Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave and Mr Fitt were among the politicians to condemn the murders, while DUP leader Ian Paisley blamed the IRA.
UFF leader and self-styled 'Captain Black' John White confessed to the killings in 1976 and was convicted of the murders in 1978.
The trial judge described the killings as "a frenzied attack, a psychotic outburst".
White was given two life sentences, but was released from prison in 1992.
He joined the Ulster Democratic Party, and became a prominent figure in the Northern Ireland Peace Process.
He was part of a four-man loyalist delegation in 1996 to visit Downing Street where he met British Prime Minister John Major.
Later when asked why he had perpetrated the killings, White claimed they were carried out to strike fear into the Catholic community after the IRA's 1973 Coleraine bombings.
When asked about the killing of Ms Andrews, it is reported he said: "We didn't know she was a Protestant, we just thought she was a Catholic to be honest".
Earlier this year, Senator Wilson's son Paul told of how he believed respect for the survivors and victims of the Troubles has been “washed away”.
Speaking at an event in Stormont to mark the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, Mr Wilson shared how the death of his father had affected him and his family.
“Years later I was asked to contribute to a commemoration plaque in Stormont. I came up with three words I thought he stood for.
"Equality, tolerance and respect.”
Mr Wilson said he then built on his understanding of respect in Northern Ireland today.
“Sadly, the respect for survivors and victims of the Troubles has been washed away,” he said.
“We see paintings and murals depicting cold-blooded murderers. Where is the respect for each other? For your neighbour?
"Where is the respect for those who died and the families who are left?”
On Monday, members of Senator Wilson's family and SDLP representatives will come together to mark the 50th anniversary of his death.
A commemoration ceremony is due to be held in the Senate Chamber at Stormont.
SDLP MLA Mr O'Toole said they will gather in memory of Senator Wilson and "all those lives taken needlessly in conflict".
"Paddy Wilson holds a special place in the history of the SDLP, a party founder and champion of working class people and the anti-sectarian labour politics core to our movement," he said.
"By contrast, his senseless murder and that of Irene Andrews, were among the most shockingly violent sectarian acts of the Troubles.
"In remembering Paddy at Stormont alongside his family on his 50th anniversary, we will mark not just the taking of his life, but the cruel cutting short of a political career of dedication and service.
"We look forward to standing with Paddy's family members, and other party colleagues, in memory of him and all those lives taken needlessly in conflict."
