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| Stormont silent in Ervine tribute | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Northern Ireland Assembly has paid tribute to Progressive Unionist leader David Ervine who died on Monday. | |
| Mr Ervine, 53, died in hospital after suffering a heart attack and later a stroke and a brain haemorrhage. | Mr Ervine, 53, died in hospital after suffering a heart attack and later a stroke and a brain haemorrhage. |
| The assembly adjourned for half an hour on Tuesday in his memory. His funeral will take place on Friday. | |
| Former US senator George Mitchell was among the politicians who praised Mr Ervine, who had helped broker the 1994 loyalist paramilitary ceasefire. | |
| Mr Mitchell said Mr Ervine, a former UVF prisoner, had played a critical role in the peace process. | |
| "He had seen the worst and he wanted the best for the future," said Mr Mitchell, who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement. | "He had seen the worst and he wanted the best for the future," said Mr Mitchell, who helped broker the Good Friday Agreement. |
| "He live a very interesting and dramatic life. I found him always to be very impressive, very committed to not returning to the difficult past which he and others had lived." | "He live a very interesting and dramatic life. I found him always to be very impressive, very committed to not returning to the difficult past which he and others had lived." |
| Death 'will leave a void' | Death 'will leave a void' |
| The PUP leader had been an assembly member for East Belfast since 1998 and also represented the Pottinger area in Belfast City Council. | The PUP leader had been an assembly member for East Belfast since 1998 and also represented the Pottinger area in Belfast City Council. |
| Billy Hutchinson, who met Mr Ervine when they were both in prison, went on to become one of his closest political allies. | Billy Hutchinson, who met Mr Ervine when they were both in prison, went on to become one of his closest political allies. |
| He said: "His legacy is that he has led loyalism out of the dark ages. | He said: "His legacy is that he has led loyalism out of the dark ages. |
| "Whether people liked David or didn't like him, the one thing about him was that he took a lot of risks for peace and he challenged people who didn't want to know anything about peace." | "Whether people liked David or didn't like him, the one thing about him was that he took a lot of risks for peace and he challenged people who didn't want to know anything about peace." |
| Tributes were also paid to Mr Ervine from Northern Ireland politicians, presidents and prime ministers. | Tributes were also paid to Mr Ervine from Northern Ireland politicians, presidents and prime ministers. |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was very sorry to hear of Mr Ervine's death. | Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was very sorry to hear of Mr Ervine's death. |
| "David was a man who, whatever his past, played a major part in this last 10 years in trying to bring peace to Ulster," Mr Blair said. | "David was a man who, whatever his past, played a major part in this last 10 years in trying to bring peace to Ulster," Mr Blair said. |
| Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the PUP leader had been a courageous politician. | Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the PUP leader had been a courageous politician. |
| "David Ervine had travelled his own difficult journey to democratic politics but he made that journey," Mr Ahern said. | "David Ervine had travelled his own difficult journey to democratic politics but he made that journey," Mr Ahern said. |
| Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said Mr Ervine was a "talented, courageous and an honest politician". | Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said Mr Ervine was a "talented, courageous and an honest politician". |
| "He wanted to solve problems not simply restate them, always looking for a way forward," Mr Hain said. | "He wanted to solve problems not simply restate them, always looking for a way forward," Mr Hain said. |
| Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said Northern Ireland had lost "a unique, charismatic and uncharacteristically spin-free politician". | Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said Northern Ireland had lost "a unique, charismatic and uncharacteristically spin-free politician". |
| "He realised that violence belonged in the past and was keen to play his part in helping loyalists make the transition towards exclusively peaceful and democratic means," Sir Reg said. | "He realised that violence belonged in the past and was keen to play his part in helping loyalists make the transition towards exclusively peaceful and democratic means," Sir Reg said. |
| George Mitchell paid tribute to the PUP leader | George Mitchell paid tribute to the PUP leader |
| Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams he was shocked by Mr Ervine's death. | Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams he was shocked by Mr Ervine's death. |
| "He made a valuable and important contribution to moving our society away from conflict," Mr Adams said. | "He made a valuable and important contribution to moving our society away from conflict," Mr Adams said. |
| DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson, the MP for East Belfast, said Mr Ervine was a "staunch defender" of the area. | DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson, the MP for East Belfast, said Mr Ervine was a "staunch defender" of the area. |
| "Even those who saw politics from a different angle of vision would openly acknowledge that he genuinely wanted to see a new era of peace and stability in Northern Ireland," he said. | "Even those who saw politics from a different angle of vision would openly acknowledge that he genuinely wanted to see a new era of peace and stability in Northern Ireland," he said. |
| SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the PUP leader "was a great character and he always showed real character". | SDLP leader Mark Durkan said the PUP leader "was a great character and he always showed real character". |
| "While his strong voice will no longer be heard his strong views and values will continue to shape the future for which he worked so hard," Mr Durkan said. | "While his strong voice will no longer be heard his strong views and values will continue to shape the future for which he worked so hard," Mr Durkan said. |
| The PUP said loyalism had lost its most articulate spokesperson. | The PUP said loyalism had lost its most articulate spokesperson. |
| "Unionism has lost the most progressive voice of this generation. Politics has lost a statesman. Our peace process has lost its most optimistic advocate and Ulster has lost a devoted son," a party statement said. | "Unionism has lost the most progressive voice of this generation. Politics has lost a statesman. Our peace process has lost its most optimistic advocate and Ulster has lost a devoted son," a party statement said. |
| Alliance Party leader David Ford also paid tribute to Mr Ervine. | Alliance Party leader David Ford also paid tribute to Mr Ervine. |
| "His personal passion for progress will be missed. He played a pivotal role in turning loyalism away from violence," Mr Ford said. | "His personal passion for progress will be missed. He played a pivotal role in turning loyalism away from violence," Mr Ford said. |
| Mr Ervine, who was married with two sons, became the leader of the PUP in 2002 after replacing Belfast councillor Hugh Smyth. | Mr Ervine, who was married with two sons, became the leader of the PUP in 2002 after replacing Belfast councillor Hugh Smyth. |