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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| PUP's Ervine has died in hospital | PUP's Ervine has died in hospital |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine has died in the Royal Victoria Hospital. | Progressive Unionist Party leader David Ervine has died in the Royal Victoria Hospital. |
| Mr Ervine, 53, was taken to hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home on Sunday. He later had a stroke and a brain haemorrhage in hospital. | Mr Ervine, 53, was taken to hospital after suffering a heart attack at his home on Sunday. He later had a stroke and a brain haemorrhage in hospital. |
| He was transferred from the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald to the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. | He was transferred from the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald to the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. |
| Mr Ervine was a key figure in brokering the loyalist ceasefire of 1994. | Mr Ervine was a key figure in brokering the loyalist ceasefire of 1994. |
| His family said he had "passed away quietly with peace and dignity". | His family said he had "passed away quietly with peace and dignity". |
| "The family would like to thank the Royal Victoria staff for all that they've done," they added in a statement. | "The family would like to thank the Royal Victoria staff for all that they've done," they added in a statement. |
| Mr Ervine had been an assembly member for East Belfast since 1998 and also represented the Pottinger area in Belfast City Council. | |
| 'Charismatic' | 'Charismatic' |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said Mr Ervine was a "talented, courageous and an honest politician". | Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said Mr Ervine was a "talented, courageous and an honest politician". |
| "He had grown away from the past and worked tirelessly to make Northern Ireland a better place," Mr Hain said. | "He had grown away from the past and worked tirelessly to make Northern Ireland a better place," Mr Hain said. |
| "He wanted to solve problems not simply restate them, always looking for a way forward." | "He wanted to solve problems not simply restate them, always looking for a way forward." |
| Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said Northern Ireland had lost "a unique, charismatic and uncharacteristically spin-free politician". | Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said Northern Ireland had lost "a unique, charismatic and uncharacteristically spin-free politician". |
| "David was always passionate about East Belfast, its people and his culture and heritage," Sir Reg said. | "David was always passionate about East Belfast, its people and his culture and heritage," Sir Reg said. |
| "He realised that violence belonged in the past and was keen to play his part in helping loyalists make the transition towards exclusively peaceful and democratic means." | "He realised that violence belonged in the past and was keen to play his part in helping loyalists make the transition towards exclusively peaceful and democratic means." |
| 'Key role' | |
| Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams he was shocked by Mr Ervine's death. | Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams he was shocked by Mr Ervine's death. |
| "David Ervine played a key role within loyalism throughout the development of the peace process. | "David Ervine played a key role within loyalism throughout the development of the peace process. |
| "He made a valuable and important contribution to moving our society away from conflict," Mr Adams said. | "He made a valuable and important contribution to moving our society away from conflict," Mr Adams said. |
| Belfast's lord mayor, Pat McCarthy of the SDLP, said Mr Ervine would be sorely missed. | Belfast's lord mayor, Pat McCarthy of the SDLP, said Mr Ervine would be sorely missed. |
| "David Ervine was a tireless and dedicated servant of the people of Belfast," he said. | "David Ervine was a tireless and dedicated servant of the people of Belfast," he said. |
| "He approached his council duties with the same passion and enthusiasm as he showed in other aspects of his political and personal life." | "He approached his council duties with the same passion and enthusiasm as he showed in other aspects of his political and personal life." |
| Peter Bunting, of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said Mr Ervine was "one of the finest and bravest of his generation". | Peter Bunting, of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said Mr Ervine was "one of the finest and bravest of his generation". |
| "All working class people in Ireland and Britain have lost a true friend," Mr Bunting said. | |
| Mr Ervine, who was married with two sons, became the leader of the PUP in 2002 after replacing Belfast councillor Hugh Smyth. | Mr Ervine, who was married with two sons, became the leader of the PUP in 2002 after replacing Belfast councillor Hugh Smyth. |