John was always very good to me. For years I knew John as someone who spoke at meetings and wrote books, I enjoyed listening to him and reading what I could. 

It was only when I started on the Political Committee of the SWP that I got to know him better. He took a keen interest in what I was studying in sociology and was never shy with a recommendation. One sticks out. One evening after a meeting someone gave me a loan of Ralph Miliband’s State in Capitalist Society. I had to write a book review and had already been provided with a criticism of the book by a lecturer, it was Nicos Polantaz’s piece. When John saw the book changing hands he was quick to leap in with his thoughts. I was eager not to be confused, keep it simple and get over the line with the assignment, but he sharply explained another Marxist view of the state and told me to look up a piece by Colin Barker, which I did, and finished the assignment with confidence, which was rare for me. 

John’s book on Anarchism was very useful to us students when it came out, given the re-birth of Autonomism with Occupy and the indignados in Spain. We were too young to remember the anti-globalisation movement of the early 2000s which other comrades could reflect on. His pamphlet on The Future Socialist Society was a game changer for me also. It answered some questions I had in the back of my head soon after I joined the party, and I often go back to it for clarity. Last night I re-read his blog post on Lord of the Rings. I remember reading this when he published it and realising with awe what a Marxist analysis could actually do. 

I had been looking forward to discussing Pashukanis, law and Marxism with John and sending him some unfinished articles for comment, but never got around to it. When I first started studying law he recommended Hugh Collins’ book, which although difficult, was very useful. 

Another influential moment for me with John was at a pro-choice counter rally on O’Connell Street, maybe 2013. John and I were standing slightly apart from the crowd talking. A gard came over and attempted to move us back with everyone else. The gard lightly grabbed John’s arm to move him along, and this was the first time I saw John angry. He snapped and shouted at the cop for touching him. John didn’t pretend he was injured but put the cop in his place, as he had no right to touch anyone. Something I might have ignored, I was inspired to see John call out. 

What I liked most about John was his confidence. He knew that he was particularly good at certain things, such as explaining things in simple terms, and this is precisely why he would volunteer himself for many projects. Others might wait for someone else to ask them, while John would offer himself up if he thought he could do something well. This is something some of us are afraid to display for fear of being seen as cocky, but John didn’t care. This is real leadership. 

I was glad to have a chat with him at the Cost of Living Coalition demo in October. He said “It’s good to see you back, and the working class too”. He felt that, although not massive, the protest was the beginning of something, and he was excited for it. He was also excited by the prospect of a socialist lawyer group in Ireland, and was to speak with British comrades for guidance.
I owe him a fiver for the IMR, I guess I’ll take out a subscription instead.  

I’ll miss John, and his kind encouragement. The movement has lost a leader.