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| Belfast trade unionist Inez McCormack dies | Belfast trade unionist Inez McCormack dies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Veteran Belfast trade unionist and campaigner Inez McCormack has died. | Veteran Belfast trade unionist and campaigner Inez McCormack has died. |
| Ms McCormack began her trade union career in the late 1960s before rising to become president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. | Ms McCormack began her trade union career in the late 1960s before rising to become president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. |
| She was born in Belfast in 1943 into a working class family and spent most of her adult life fighting for the rights of those around her. | |
| She left school at 16 and later studied social work at Trinity College Dublin and Queens in Belfast. | She left school at 16 and later studied social work at Trinity College Dublin and Queens in Belfast. |
| In the late 1960s she was prominent when the civil rights movement spilled onto the streets. | In the late 1960s she was prominent when the civil rights movement spilled onto the streets. |
| For decades she campaigned tirelessly for the rights of workers - especially for the low paid - first with the union NUPE and then UNISON. | For decades she campaigned tirelessly for the rights of workers - especially for the low paid - first with the union NUPE and then UNISON. |
| In 1998 she paid an important behind-the-scenes role in the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement which spawned the current political settlement at Stormont. | In 1998 she paid an important behind-the-scenes role in the 1998 Good Friday Peace Agreement which spawned the current political settlement at Stormont. |
| But it was her long fight for equality and human rights - especially for women - for which she will be most closely remembered. | But it was her long fight for equality and human rights - especially for women - for which she will be most closely remembered. |
| A founding member of the Equal Opportunities, Fair Employment and Human Rights Commission, she broke the glass ceiling herself by becoming the first female president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. | A founding member of the Equal Opportunities, Fair Employment and Human Rights Commission, she broke the glass ceiling herself by becoming the first female president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. |
| Ms McCormack was also the founder of and an adviser to the Participation and the Practice of Rights organisation (PPR), which provides support to local disadvantaged communities and groups. | Ms McCormack was also the founder of and an adviser to the Participation and the Practice of Rights organisation (PPR), which provides support to local disadvantaged communities and groups. |
| During Bill Clinton's first visit to Ireland as US president, the First Lady Hilary Clinton paid tribute to her work - the beginning of what became an enduring friendship. | During Bill Clinton's first visit to Ireland as US president, the First Lady Hilary Clinton paid tribute to her work - the beginning of what became an enduring friendship. |
| Mrs Clinton also mentioned Ms McCormack during her last visit to Belfast in December, 2012. | Mrs Clinton also mentioned Ms McCormack during her last visit to Belfast in December, 2012. |
| "Inez stands out amongst the extraordinary people I have worked with over the last 17 years. She inspired and motivated me, challenged me often," she said. | "Inez stands out amongst the extraordinary people I have worked with over the last 17 years. She inspired and motivated me, challenged me often," she said. |
| "One of Inez's comments will always remain with me: There are so many more ties that bind us than divide us." | "One of Inez's comments will always remain with me: There are so many more ties that bind us than divide us." |
| In 2011, Ms McCormack, along with Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Meryl Streep and Mu Sochua (a Nobel Peace Prize nominee from Cambodia), was named by US publication Newsweek as one of '150 Women Who Shake the World'. | In 2011, Ms McCormack, along with Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Meryl Streep and Mu Sochua (a Nobel Peace Prize nominee from Cambodia), was named by US publication Newsweek as one of '150 Women Who Shake the World'. |
| She was recognised for her work in enabling women to improve the quality of their lives through spreading the values of human rights. | She was recognised for her work in enabling women to improve the quality of their lives through spreading the values of human rights. |
| Her life term work was immortalised when the Holywood legend Meryl Streep played her in a Broadway play. | Her life term work was immortalised when the Holywood legend Meryl Streep played her in a Broadway play. |
| At the time Ms McCormack said: "It is very humbling to have your life story represented in this way and a privilege to have an Oscar-winning actress and strong female character like Meryl Streep involved in the dramatisation. | At the time Ms McCormack said: "It is very humbling to have your life story represented in this way and a privilege to have an Oscar-winning actress and strong female character like Meryl Streep involved in the dramatisation. |
| "I have had the privilege of spending a lifetime at the service of warm strong women, who challenged injustice not just for themselves but for the people and communities they cared for and whose only affirmation has been that of their own conscience." | "I have had the privilege of spending a lifetime at the service of warm strong women, who challenged injustice not just for themselves but for the people and communities they cared for and whose only affirmation has been that of their own conscience." |
| 'Remarkable woman' | 'Remarkable woman' |
| Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and UN Human Rights commissioner said: "Inez was a remarkable woman with a remarkable capacity for friendship. | Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and UN Human Rights commissioner said: "Inez was a remarkable woman with a remarkable capacity for friendship. |
| "It was from Inez I learned that you can achieve much more if you don't need the credit. Her support to me as a close advisor when I served as president was invaluable, but she never appeared in photographs or in the front row." | "It was from Inez I learned that you can achieve much more if you don't need the credit. Her support to me as a close advisor when I served as president was invaluable, but she never appeared in photographs or in the front row." |
| Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan also paid tribute to Ms McCormack. | Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan also paid tribute to Ms McCormack. |
| "Inez McCormack was impressive and effective in all she did. She stood for workers' rights, for women's rights, for equality and public services," he said. | "Inez McCormack was impressive and effective in all she did. She stood for workers' rights, for women's rights, for equality and public services," he said. |
| "She was articulate, compassionate and steadfast. She was immensely charming as well as being intense in her convictions. | "She was articulate, compassionate and steadfast. She was immensely charming as well as being intense in her convictions. |
| "Her contribution to public life went beyond her primary role as a worker's defender, as she helped to benchmark the values, principles and protections that were needed for a fair and stable society." | "Her contribution to public life went beyond her primary role as a worker's defender, as she helped to benchmark the values, principles and protections that were needed for a fair and stable society." |
| Patricia McKeown, the regional secretary of UNISON added: "Inez will never leave us in spirit. She has touched the lives of thousands of ordinary women and men and she has succeeded in what she set out to do. She has made a difference. | Patricia McKeown, the regional secretary of UNISON added: "Inez will never leave us in spirit. She has touched the lives of thousands of ordinary women and men and she has succeeded in what she set out to do. She has made a difference. |
| "Inez constantly battled on shifting sands on some of the most controversial issues such as discrimination, child sexual abuse, rape in marriage and as a weapon of war and a woman's right to choose. | "Inez constantly battled on shifting sands on some of the most controversial issues such as discrimination, child sexual abuse, rape in marriage and as a weapon of war and a woman's right to choose. |
| "Her vindication lies in the fact that many of the issues on which she broke the mould are now seen as safe ground for those who came later." | "Her vindication lies in the fact that many of the issues on which she broke the mould are now seen as safe ground for those who came later." |