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Ex-environment minister Sam Foster, Ulster Unionist, dies aged 82 | Ex-environment minister Sam Foster, Ulster Unionist, dies aged 82 |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The former Northern Ireland environment minister, Sam Foster, has died. | The former Northern Ireland environment minister, Sam Foster, has died. |
The Ulster Unionist, who was 82, represented Fermanagh in the assembly and served as a minister at Stormont between 1999 and 2002. | The Ulster Unionist, who was 82, represented Fermanagh in the assembly and served as a minister at Stormont between 1999 and 2002. |
He was a former chairman of Fermanagh District Council and served as a major in the Ulster Defence Regiment. | He was a former chairman of Fermanagh District Council and served as a major in the Ulster Defence Regiment. |
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he was proud to have known Mr Foster, whom he described as a "huge figure in Fermanagh unionism". | Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he was proud to have known Mr Foster, whom he described as a "huge figure in Fermanagh unionism". |
"It is a mark of Sam that he was able to gain the respect of political friend and foe alike," he said. | "It is a mark of Sam that he was able to gain the respect of political friend and foe alike," he said. |
"He never held personal grudges and sought to find agreement rather than create strife. He rose to high office but never forgot his roots and always remained at heart a Fermanagh man. | "He never held personal grudges and sought to find agreement rather than create strife. He rose to high office but never forgot his roots and always remained at heart a Fermanagh man. |
'Great dignity' | 'Great dignity' |
"Sam was the living embodiment of a loyal Ulster Unionist who served his country and his party faithfully for many decades and was held in the highest of esteem by all." | "Sam was the living embodiment of a loyal Ulster Unionist who served his country and his party faithfully for many decades and was held in the highest of esteem by all." |
Former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Empey said Mr Foster had confronted illness with "great dignity and fortitude". | Former Ulster Unionist leader Lord Empey said Mr Foster had confronted illness with "great dignity and fortitude". |
He added: "The one word that sums Sam up is loyalty. | |
"Fermanagh has lost a great unionist today." | "Fermanagh has lost a great unionist today." |
Another former party leader, Tom Elliott, said Mr Foster had been a "long-standing, faithful and loyal member" of the party. | Another former party leader, Tom Elliott, said Mr Foster had been a "long-standing, faithful and loyal member" of the party. |
Mr Foster took over as environment minister in 1999 during the era of stop-start devolution. | |
He visited Belfast's Black Mountain together with the Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, and attended a peace rally with the then Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble after the loyalist murder of a postal worker in 2002. | |
Respected | |
In 2002, Mr Foster received a CBE for political and public service. He was related to the husband of Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. | In 2002, Mr Foster received a CBE for political and public service. He was related to the husband of Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. |
The DUP minister said it was no secret she did not always agree on politics with her Ulster Unionist relative, but she always respected and admired the style of a man she and her family would remember as a "very dear uncle". | |
Sinn Féin MLA and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness expressed his condolences at Mr Foster's death. | |
"I worked with Sam Foster for a time on the executive when he served as minister for the environment," he said. | |
"Despite our obvious political differences, I found him to be courteous, decent and conscientious at all times." | |
A retired social worker, Mr Foster was a leading member of the Orange Order in Fermanagh. | A retired social worker, Mr Foster was a leading member of the Orange Order in Fermanagh. |