the group against accusations by government Ministers Michael Noonan and Barry Desmond that it was a front for the Provisional IRA. During a public meeting held by the group, Gregory told Charlie Dunne, an associate of the Dunne criminal group, that "If you had any decency left in you, you'd walk straight into the Liffey and drown yourself". Gregory however believed that the solution to the problem was multi-faceted and worked on a number of policy level efforts across policing, service co-ordination and rehabilitation of addicts. In 1995 in an article in The Irish Times, he proposed what would later turn into the Criminal Assets Bureau which was set up in 1996, catalysed by the death of journalist Veronica Guerin. His role in its development would be acknowledged later by the then Minister of Justice Nora Owen. He also advocated for Dublin's street traders. After attending a sit-down protest with Sinn Féin Councillor Christy Burke, and future Labour Party TD Joe Costello on Dublin's O'Connell Street in defence of a street trader; he, Burke and four others were arrested and charged with obstruction and threatening behaviour. He spent two weeks in Mountjoy Prison after refusing to sign a bond to keep the peace. Gregory remained a TD from 1982 and, although he never held a government position, remained one of the country's most recognised Dáil deputies. He always refused to wear a tie in the Dáil chamber stating that many of his constituents could not afford them. Death He died on 2 January 2009, aged 61, following a long battle with cancer. Following his death, tributes poured in from politicians from every party, recognising his contribution to Dublin's north inner city. During his funeral, politicians from the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were told that although they spoke highly of Gregory following his death, during his time in the Dáil he had been excluded by many of them and that they were not to use his funeral as a "photo opportunity". He was buried on 7 January, with the Socialist Party's Joe Higgins delivering the graveside oration. By-election Colleagues of Tony Gregory supported his election agent, Dublin City Councillor Maureen O'Sullivan at the Dublin Central by-election in June 2009. O'Sullivan won the subsequent by-election. Biography Tony Gregory: The Biography of a True Irish Political Legend was published in 2011. The biography was written by Robbie Gilligan, and launched