Nobel Laureate and former SDLP leader John Hume has paid tribute to Father Alec Reid who died this morning.
The late Fr Alec Reid.
Fr Reid (82), who died in a Dublin Hospital, played an influential role in the Northern Ireland peace process in which, according to Mr Hume, he was an “active player.”
A member of the Redemptorist Order, he facilitated talks between Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams and Mr Hume and acted as go-between the republican movement and the British Government.
Mr Hume said without Fr Reid’s “courage, determination and utter selflessness,” the road to peace would have been longer and more difficult.
Mr Hume said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the death of my friend Father Alec Reid.
“Fr Reid was a pillar of the Peace Process. 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.
“A man of faith and deep conviction, his commitment to our people was a key part of the foundation on which our early, fragile peace was built.
“Fr Alec was not simply a ‘go between’ in the early days of negotiating for peace. He was an active player in fighting for an end to violence.
“Few will forget the image of Fr Reid lying between Corporals David Howes and Derek Wood in an attempt to save their lives in March 1988. His dedication was to all people, regardless of their background.”
“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.”
Mr Hume concluded: “I wish to send my deepest condolences to his family, friends, his fellow priests and Brothers of the Redemptorist Order and all those whose lives he touched.”
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