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Peace process priest Father Alec Reid dies Peace process priest Father Alec Reid dies
(35 minutes later)
Fr Alec Reid, who acted as go-between between the IRA and politicians, coaxing the Northern Ireland peace process into being, has died.Fr Alec Reid, who acted as go-between between the IRA and politicians, coaxing the Northern Ireland peace process into being, has died.
He died in a Dublin Hospital at 06:40 GMT on Friday.He died in a Dublin Hospital at 06:40 GMT on Friday.
Fr Reid had secretly acted as a conduit between the leaders of the republican and nationalist movements in Northern Ireland. Fr Reid, a member of the Redemptorist order, secretly acted as a conduit between the leaders of the republican movement and the British government.
He has been widely acknowledged as an important figure in the Irish peace process.He has been widely acknowledged as an important figure in the Irish peace process.
Fr Reid was one of the witnesses who confirmed the decommissioning of IRA weapons.
'Immense contribution'
In recent years, he was involved in talks with Basque nationalists seeking independence from Spain.
West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood described him as a man who "played an intrinsic part in the foundation of the peace process".
"On behalf of the SDLP, I want to convey our deep sympathy to Fr Reid's family and to his fellow priests and Brothers," he said.
"Fr Reid made an immense contribution to peace and to the lives of countless numbers of people.
"He lived out his faith conviction in the lives of people. This place and our people are the better for all of his work."