TRIBUTES have been paid to Workers’ Party member and former press officer John Jefferies on his passing.

Party President Michael Donnelly has described the Cork man as “a truly great person and Comrade” and said that he had been “fighting the fight” right up to his death.

Mr Jefferies joined the Workers’ Party in the late 1980s in the Cork South Central Constituency. He went on to work for them part-time dealing with the media and working with the councillors on Cork City Council before going on to work in Dáíl Éireann.

John spent time as National Press Officer and later as the Administrative Officer for the Party. Even after he finished working full-time for the party he continued as the national press officer on a voluntary basis.

“For virtually his entire adult life John was actively involved in the politics of the Workers’ Party, both in his home city of Cork, as well as regionally and nationally,” Michael Donnelly, Workers’ Party President, said.

He went on to say that Mr Jefferies was never wavering in his commitment to the establishment of the Socialist Republic.

“Even though for long periods in his life, John battled against serious illness he never complained, never sought sympathy, and never, ever allowed his periods of illness to prevent him from fighting the workers’ fight.

“Right up virtually to his sudden death John was still fighting the fight. This time in the recent general election in Cork North Central on behalf of his Comrade James Coughlan, who was standing for the Party in that constituency,” he added.

“John Jeffries may have been physically a small man, but politically and intellectually he was a giant amongst us. His death has robbed us of a truly great person and Comrade, leaving a great gap in our ranks.”