Congressman Donald Payne of New Jersey, one of the most pro-Irish US politicians in Washington, died on Tuesday. He was 77.
Payne, a Democrat who has served 12 terms representing the 10th congressional district, championed education and civil rights for his constituents and, abroad, was an advocate for human rights in South Africa. He was the first African-American member of Congress from New Jersey and was recognised at one point in his career as having the most pro-Irish voting record in the entire US Congress. Among the legislation he introduced was a measure to ban the use of plastic bullets by the British Army and a bill to support an inquiry into the deaths of Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson.