REQUIEM Mass will be held on today for Derry businessman turned peacemaker Brendan Duddy.
The 80-year-old died on Friday aged 80.
He was instrumetnal in bringing about the peace process and forged a secret link between the IRA and British government through MI6 agent Michael Oatley.
He will be buried today following Requiem Mass at St Eugene’s cathedral in Francis Street at 11.30 pm.
Many tributes have paid to Mr Duddy for his work in getting the British Government to talk to the IRA.
Mr Eastwood said that Brendan Duddy was one of the North’s silent peacemakers, without whom the road to peace must have been much longer.
He said: “Brendan Duddy was a member of a brave group of men and women who, for no personal gain or glory, advanced the cause of peace on this island immeasurably.
“His quiet but intensive work was critical to securing the 1994 ceasefire as a precursor to the Good Friday Agreement and, eventually, decommissioning.
“There’s no doubt that the long road to peace would have been all the longer if not for the contribution of people like Brendan Duddy.
“I want to extend my deepest sympathies to Brendan’s family at this difficult time and I hope they are comforted by the knowledge that his was a life that changed this island’s history.”
