Northern Ireland

John Dallat was a loyal campaigner for equality and justice

John Dallat, pictured with his wife, Anne and SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, held a number of campaigns close to his heart. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
John Dallat, pictured with his wife, Anne and SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, held a number of campaigns close to his heart. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

IN A political career spanning almost a quarter of a century John Dallat lent his support to many campaigns and frequently spoke out on the activities of loyalist paramilitaries in his constituency.

Joining Coleraine Borough Council in 1997 as an SDLP representative he went on to become the first nationalist mayor of Coleraine in 2001 and continued as a councillor until 2010.

He was also elected to the Stormont assembly in 1998 where he held the East Derry seat for the SDLP, serving as Assembly deputy speaker from 2007 until his retirement in 2016. He re-entered frontline politics the following year to regain the seat which he held until his death.

He was a frequent critic of loyalists and their activities in the post ceasefire years - particularly killer Torrens Knight who was given 12 life sentences for his part in the 1993 murders of four Catholic workmen in Portstewart and the killing of eight people in the Greysteel massacre later the same year.

His opposition to sectarian politics drove him to support the then Presbyterian minister, Rev David Armstrong when he was forced out of his Limavady church because he extended Christmas greetings to the neighbouring Catholic church in 2008.

Rev Armstrong later became a Church of Ireland minister and moved to Co Cork.

Now retired and living in Co Antrim, Rev Armstrong last night said Mr Dallat was a loyal campaigner for equality and justice.

“John was a faithful friend through all the years and continually told me that what we did in Limavady would not and should not be forgotten and that we had struck a blow against hatred. He was very, very supportive of me and even my children,” the retired cleric said.

Rev Armstrong said Mr Dallat’s family told him the SDLP assembly member had asked that he take help officiate at his funeral.

Mr Dallat was also a long-time campaigner for justice for teenage German backpacker, Inga Maria Hauser. The 18-year-old’s body was found at Ballypatrick Forest Park in County Antrim in 1988, a short time after she arrived in Northern Ireland on a backpacking trip. No-one has ever been charged with her murder.

The Co Derry man was to the fore in demands that police renew efforts to catch those responsible for her death. With other supporters, he organised annual commemorations and spoke at a memorial in Ms Hauser’s memory last December.

He was also due to take part with Ms Hauser’s sister at an event in her memory at Queen’s University last month. However, the discussion was cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.

Among the other long running campaigns supported by Mr Dallat was the case of homeless Ukrainian woman, Oksana Sukhanova who had her legs amputated after suffering frostbite in County Antrim in 2005.

He was also a keen supporter of the Into the West campaign to develop the Belfast to Derry rail link and the successful campaign to maintain an Irish Coast Guard station at Malin Head.