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| Crowds gather to mourn PUP leader | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Mourners have been gathering at an East Belfast church for the funeral of Progressive Unionist leader David Ervine. | |
| Nationalist and unionist politicians are among those at the Methodist Mission on the Newtownards Road, where the service is to take place. | |
| Mr Ervine, 53, died on Monday after a heart attack. | |
| Scores of people are lining the Newtownards Road to say goodbye to the popular politician. | |
| Secreatary of State Peter Hain, SDLP leader Mark Durkan, Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, East Belfast DUP MP Peter Robinson and Lord Trimble are among those attending the service. | |
| Representatives of the Irish government are also there, including TD Liz O'Donnell, who worked closely with Mr Ervine when she was a junior minister during the negotiations which led to the Good Friday Agreement. | |
| Tributes were paid to Mr Ervine by Northern Ireland politicians, presidents and prime ministers. | 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." |
| Part of the lower Newtownards Road is closed due to the funeral - between Templemore Avenue and the Albertbridge Road between 1145 and 1345. |