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| John Hume: Nobel Peace Prize winner dies aged 83 | John Hume: Nobel Peace Prize winner dies aged 83 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Nobel Peace Prize winner and prominent Northern Ireland politician John Hume has died aged 83. | The Nobel Peace Prize winner and prominent Northern Ireland politician John Hume has died aged 83. |
| He died in a Londonderry nursing home following a long period of illness. | He died in a Londonderry nursing home following a long period of illness. |
| One of the highest-profile politicians in Northern Ireland for more than 30 years, he helped create the climate that brought an end to the Troubles. | One of the highest-profile politicians in Northern Ireland for more than 30 years, he helped create the climate that brought an end to the Troubles. |
| He was a founding member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 1970 and led the party from 1979 until 2001. | He was a founding member of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) in 1970 and led the party from 1979 until 2001. |
| Mr Hume played a major role in the peace talks, which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. | Mr Hume played a major role in the peace talks, which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. |
| He was widely admired for his steadfast commitment to peaceful, democratic politics during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland. | He was widely admired for his steadfast commitment to peaceful, democratic politics during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland. |
| Tributes have been paid by political leaders past and present, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was in office when the peace deal was signed. | Tributes have been paid by political leaders past and present, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who was in office when the peace deal was signed. |
| Mr Blair said he was "a visionary who refused to believe the future had to be the same as the past". | Mr Blair said he was "a visionary who refused to believe the future had to be the same as the past". |
| "His contribution to peace in Northern Ireland was epic and he will rightly be remembered for it," he said. | "His contribution to peace in Northern Ireland was epic and he will rightly be remembered for it," he said. |
| "He was insistent it was possible, tireless in pursuit of it and endlessly creative in seeking ways of making it happen." | "He was insistent it was possible, tireless in pursuit of it and endlessly creative in seeking ways of making it happen." |
| Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Northern Ireland had "lost a great man who did so much to help bring an end to the Troubles and build a better future for all". | Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Northern Ireland had "lost a great man who did so much to help bring an end to the Troubles and build a better future for all". |
| He said Mr Hume's vision "paved the way for the stability, positivity and dynamism of the Northern Ireland of today". | He said Mr Hume's vision "paved the way for the stability, positivity and dynamism of the Northern Ireland of today". |
| SDLP co-founder Austin Currie said "John Hume is the greatest Irishman since Parnell". | SDLP co-founder Austin Currie said "John Hume is the greatest Irishman since Parnell". |
| "His place in Irish history is richly deserved. Hume's consistency provided a compass through some terrible times," he said. | "His place in Irish history is richly deserved. Hume's consistency provided a compass through some terrible times," he said. |
| In the late 1980s, Mr Hume took considerable risks for peace by holding talks with the then leader of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams. | In the late 1980s, Mr Hume took considerable risks for peace by holding talks with the then leader of Sinn Féin, Gerry Adams. |
| The talks were controversial because the IRA was still heavily involved in violence, but Mr Hume's aim was to persuade republicans to commit to exclusively democratic means. | The talks were controversial because the IRA was still heavily involved in violence, but Mr Hume's aim was to persuade republicans to commit to exclusively democratic means. |
| The Hume-Adams talks helped to lay the foundations for the 1994 IRA ceasefire and later negotiations which resulted in the Good Friday Agreement. | The Hume-Adams talks helped to lay the foundations for the 1994 IRA ceasefire and later negotiations which resulted in the Good Friday Agreement. |
| Mr Adams said he was "a political leader genuinely prepared to look at the bigger picture and to put the wider interests of society above narrow party politics". | Mr Adams said he was "a political leader genuinely prepared to look at the bigger picture and to put the wider interests of society above narrow party politics". |
| He said his decision to meet him was a "breakthrough moment in Irish politics". | He said his decision to meet him was a "breakthrough moment in Irish politics". |
| "When others were stuck in the ritual politics of condemnation, John Hume had the courage to take real risks for peace," he added. | "When others were stuck in the ritual politics of condemnation, John Hume had the courage to take real risks for peace," he added. |
| Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin hailed Mr Hume as "a true peacemaker". | Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin hailed Mr Hume as "a true peacemaker". |
| "During the darkest days of paramilitary terrorism and sectarian strife, he kept hope alive. And with patience, resilience and unswerving commitment, he triumphed and delivered a victory for peace," he said. | "During the darkest days of paramilitary terrorism and sectarian strife, he kept hope alive. And with patience, resilience and unswerving commitment, he triumphed and delivered a victory for peace," he said. |
| Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster described the former SDLP leader as a "giant in Irish nationalism". | Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster described the former SDLP leader as a "giant in Irish nationalism". |
| "In our darkest days he recognised that violence was the wrong path and worked steadfastly to promote democratic politics," the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader added. | "In our darkest days he recognised that violence was the wrong path and worked steadfastly to promote democratic politics," the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader added. |
| Following the 1998 peace deal, Mr Hume was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with the then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, David Trimble. | Following the 1998 peace deal, Mr Hume was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with the then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, David Trimble. |
| Lord Trimble said from the outset Mr Hume urged people to stick to their objective peacefully. | Lord Trimble said from the outset Mr Hume urged people to stick to their objective peacefully. |
| "He was a major contributor to politics in Northern Ireland, particularly to the process that gave us an agreement that we are still working our way through," he said. | "He was a major contributor to politics in Northern Ireland, particularly to the process that gave us an agreement that we are still working our way through," he said. |
| "He will be remembered for that contribution for years to come." | "He will be remembered for that contribution for years to come." |
| 'Legitimacy of the people' | 'Legitimacy of the people' |
| Mr Hume spent decades fighting and winning elections to different parliaments at Stormont, Westminster and Brussels. | Mr Hume spent decades fighting and winning elections to different parliaments at Stormont, Westminster and Brussels. |
| He served as member of the European Parliament (MEP) for more than 25 years, and held a seat in Westminster as MP for the Foyle constituency for almost 22 years. | He served as member of the European Parliament (MEP) for more than 25 years, and held a seat in Westminster as MP for the Foyle constituency for almost 22 years. |
| Former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, who co-signed the 1998 peace deal with Tony Blair, said Mr Hume always "saw the bigger picture" in Irish politics. | Former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, who co-signed the 1998 peace deal with Tony Blair, said Mr Hume always "saw the bigger picture" in Irish politics. |
| He credited Mr Hume with the idea of ratifying the deal with different referenda on both sides of the Irish border. | He credited Mr Hume with the idea of ratifying the deal with different referenda on both sides of the Irish border. |
| "When the Good Friday Agreement was signed by Tony and I, he [Mr Hume] said: 'You put this to the people north and south and it will get the legitimacy of the people'. | "When the Good Friday Agreement was signed by Tony and I, he [Mr Hume] said: 'You put this to the people north and south and it will get the legitimacy of the people'. |
| "That was singularly his idea and it really was a bright idea," Mr Ahern told BBC Radio Five Live. | "That was singularly his idea and it really was a bright idea," Mr Ahern told BBC Radio Five Live. |
| Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Hume had "remodelled politics in Ireland" and hailed his "personal bravery and leadership". | Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Hume had "remodelled politics in Ireland" and hailed his "personal bravery and leadership". |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said Northern Ireland would not be where it was today "without his leadership and courage". | |
| "He dedicated his life to peace, and for that the people of Northern Ireland will never forget him," he said. | "He dedicated his life to peace, and for that the people of Northern Ireland will never forget him," he said. |
| Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described him as "a national icon". | Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described him as "a national icon". |
| Archbishop Eamon Martin said "a great sadness" had descended over the city of Derry. | |
| The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland described Mr Hume as "a paragon of peace, a giant of a statesman whose legacy of unstinting service to the common good is internationally acclaimed". | |
| There is no way you could overestimate John Hume's contribution in the political development of Northern Ireland. | There is no way you could overestimate John Hume's contribution in the political development of Northern Ireland. |
| He was definitely, during those years, the brains behind the approach to the peace process. | He was definitely, during those years, the brains behind the approach to the peace process. |
| He worked on differing relationships, trying to solve problems which seemed for so many years to be completely without any possible solution. | He worked on differing relationships, trying to solve problems which seemed for so many years to be completely without any possible solution. |
| He helped create the political space in which the different parties could manoeuvre their way towards what became the the Good Friday Agreement. | He helped create the political space in which the different parties could manoeuvre their way towards what became the the Good Friday Agreement. |
| John Hume battled on at very hard times during the Troubles - when any kind of dialogue came under attack from opponents as being a sign of weakness. | John Hume battled on at very hard times during the Troubles - when any kind of dialogue came under attack from opponents as being a sign of weakness. |
| He persevered with his efforts to bring about a solution. | He persevered with his efforts to bring about a solution. |
| Mr Hume died in the early hours of Monday at Owen Mor nursing home in Derry, having suffered dementia for several years. | |
| A book of condolence will be opened for Mr Hume at the Guildhall in Derry on Monday afternoon. | A book of condolence will be opened for Mr Hume at the Guildhall in Derry on Monday afternoon. |
| His funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Eugene, Derry, at 11.30 BST on Wednesday. | His funeral mass will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Eugene, Derry, at 11.30 BST on Wednesday. |
| In a statement, his family said his loss would be greatly felt and they had drawn "great comfort" from "being with John again in the last days of his life". | In a statement, his family said his loss would be greatly felt and they had drawn "great comfort" from "being with John again in the last days of his life". |