THE family of John Hume has thanked the people of Donegal for the care shown to him prior to his death this morning.
Mr Hume, one of the key architects of the Peace Process in Northern Ireland, passed away peacefully at the age of 83.
Announcing the SDLP founder and Nobel Peace Prize winner’s death, his family said in a statement, “We are deeply saddened to announce that John passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning after a short illness.
“We would like to extend our deepest and heartfelt thanks to the care and nursing staff of Owen Mor nursing home in Derry. The care they have shown John in the last months of his life has been exceptional. As a family, we are unfailingly inspired by the professionalism, compassion, and love they have shown to John and all those under their care.
“We can never adequately show them our thanks for looking after John at a time when we could not. The family drew great comfort in being with John again in the last days of his life.
“We would also like to extend our gratitude to the people of Derry and Moville/Greencastle who have looked after John and show us so much kindness as his dementia has progressed. Celebrating community in all its diversity went to the heart of John’s political ethos and we are very appreciative that our communities supported, respected and protected John.”
One of the highest-profile politicians in Northern Ireland for more than 30 years, John Hume helped create the climate that brought an end to the Troubles.
He played a major role in the peace talks which led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and was admired on a global scale for his efforts in bringing peace to the island of Ireland.
Read the full text of the Hume family’s statement here:
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