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Peace process priest Father Alec Reid dies Northern Ireland peace process priest Fr Alec Reid dies
(35 minutes later)
Fr Alec Reid, who was a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, acting as a go-between between the IRA and politicians, has died.Fr Alec Reid, who was a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, acting as a go-between between the IRA and politicians, 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, 82, a member of the Redemptorist order, secretly acted as a conduit between the republican movement and the British government.Fr Reid, 82, a member of the Redemptorist order, secretly acted as a conduit between the republican movement and the British government.
He was one of the witnesses who confirmed the decommissioning of IRA weapons.He was one of the witnesses who confirmed the decommissioning of IRA weapons.
In recent years, he was involved in talks with Basque nationalists seeking independence from Spain.In recent years, he was involved in talks with Basque nationalists seeking independence from Spain.
In 1988, Fr Reid was pictured praying over the bodies of two Army corporals who had been dragged from their car, beaten and shot by the IRA.In 1988, Fr Reid was pictured praying over the bodies of two Army corporals who had been dragged from their car, beaten and shot by the IRA.
The corporals had inadvertently driven into the midst of a republican funeral in Belfast.The corporals had inadvertently driven into the midst of a republican funeral in Belfast.
'Enormous fears'
The photograph of the bloodstained priest crouched praying over one of the soldiers was one of the starkest images of the Northern Ireland Troubles.The photograph of the bloodstained priest crouched praying over one of the soldiers was one of the starkest images of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Fr Alec Reid's intervention to administer last rites epitomised his enormous faith and strength of conviction.A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Fr Alec Reid's intervention to administer last rites epitomised his enormous faith and strength of conviction.
"His comfort was given amidst the enormous fears and tension on that terrible day in March 1988.""His comfort was given amidst the enormous fears and tension on that terrible day in March 1988."
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams said Clonard monastery, Fr Reid's base in west Belfast during the Troubles, was "the cradle of the peace process". Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Clonard monastery, Fr Reid's base in west Belfast during the Troubles, was "the cradle of the peace process".
He told RTE Radio he was with Fr Reid last night in St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, and had been due to visit him again on Friday. He told RTÉ Radio he was with Fr Reid on Thursday night in St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, and had been due to visit him again on Friday.
"I feel deeply saddened. I have not absorbed it yet. I knew him for the last 40 years," he said.
"He was also a very good friend of mine, of my wife, of my family.
"What Alec Reid did was, he lived the gospel message. He developed a view which was contrary to the official view, that there had to be dialogue, and he was tenacious.""What Alec Reid did was, he lived the gospel message. He developed a view which was contrary to the official view, that there had to be dialogue, and he was tenacious."
'End to violence'
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, said: "I heard with sadness of the death of Fr Reid.Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers, said: "I heard with sadness of the death of Fr Reid.
"We all owe a debt of gratitude to him for the role he played in the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland.""We all owe a debt of gratitude to him for the role he played in the peace and reconciliation process in Northern Ireland."
West Belfast MLA Alex Attwood described him as a man who "played an intrinsic part in the foundation of the peace process". Former SDLP leader John Hume said Fr Reid was "not simply a go between" in the early days of negotiating for peace.
"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. "He was an active player in fighting for an end to violence," Mr Hume said.
"Fr Reid made an immense contribution to peace and to the lives of countless numbers of people. "Without his courage, determination and utter selflessness, the road to peace in our region would have been much longer and much more difficult to traverse.
"He lived out his faith conviction in the lives of people. This place and our people are the better for all of his work." "While we mourn the loss of a great man, we must also celebrate the legacy of peace and an opportunity to reconcile our people that he gave to us. It is an opportunity we cannot afford to waste."
Fr Reid's funeral will take place at 12:00 GMT on Wednesday after requiem Mass in Clonard church in west Belfast.