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| Funeral service for PUP's Ervine | Funeral service for PUP's Ervine |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The funeral of Progressive Unionist leader David Ervine is to take place later on Friday. | The funeral of Progressive Unionist leader David Ervine is to take place later on Friday. |
| Mr Ervine, 53, died on Monday after suffering a heart attack and later a stroke and a brain haemorrhage. | Mr Ervine, 53, died on Monday after suffering a heart attack and later a stroke and a brain haemorrhage. |
| He will be buried following a service at the East Belfast Methodist Mission on the Newtownards Road at 1200 GMT. | He will be buried following a service at the East Belfast Methodist Mission on the Newtownards Road at 1200 GMT. |
| It is expected to be one of the largest funerals to take place in the area with a unique gathering of mourners saying farewell to the prominent politician. | It is expected to be one of the largest funerals to take place in the area with a unique gathering of mourners saying farewell to the prominent politician. |
| Part of the lower Newtownards Road will be closed due to the funeral - between Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road between 1145 and 1345. | |
| Tributes were paid to Mr Ervine by Northern Ireland politicians, presidents and prime ministers. | |
| The assembly member, who was married with two sons, became the leader of the PUP in 2002 after replacing Belfast councillor Hugh Smyth. | The assembly member, who was married with two sons, became the leader of the PUP in 2002 after replacing Belfast councillor Hugh Smyth. |
| We are not calling this a funeral service. We are calling this a celebration of the life of David Ervine and that will be the theme throughout it Minister Gary Mason | We are not calling this a funeral service. We are calling this a celebration of the life of David Ervine and that will be the theme throughout it Minister Gary Mason |
| On Tuesday, the Northern Ireland Assembly adjourned for half an hour in his memory. | On Tuesday, the Northern Ireland Assembly adjourned for half an hour in his memory. |
| Former US senator George Mitchell was among the politicians who praised Mr Ervine, who had helped broker the 1994 loyalist paramilitary ceasefire. | Former US senator George Mitchell was among the politicians who praised Mr Ervine, who had helped broker the 1994 loyalist paramilitary ceasefire. |
| Tributes were also paid by Prime Minister Tony Blair, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the UUP, DUP, Sinn Fein, Alliance, SDLP and his own PUP. | Tributes were also paid by Prime Minister Tony Blair, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the UUP, DUP, Sinn Fein, Alliance, SDLP and his own PUP. |
| 'Both traditions' | 'Both traditions' |
| 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. |
| Minister Gary Mason said Mr Ervine was a man of "honesty and integrity" and who had "universal appeal". | Minister Gary Mason said Mr Ervine was a man of "honesty and integrity" and who had "universal appeal". |
| He told the BBC: "There is no question that David was so well known - not just in east Belfast, the province, on the island of Ireland, but even internationally. | He told the BBC: "There is no question that David was so well known - not just in east Belfast, the province, on the island of Ireland, but even internationally. |
| "I imagine that at the service there will be people from right across both traditions - republican, nationalist, loyalist and unionists, because he was well respected despite political differences and people just respected him because of who he was. | "I imagine that at the service there will be people from right across both traditions - republican, nationalist, loyalist and unionists, because he was well respected despite political differences and people just respected him because of who he was. |
| "We are not calling this a funeral service. We are calling this a celebration of the life of David Ervine and that will be the theme throughout it." | "We are not calling this a funeral service. We are calling this a celebration of the life of David Ervine and that will be the theme throughout it." |