John Cushnahan: John Hume’s leadership was based upon reconciliation and in marked contrast to the IRA’s sterile campaign of terrorism

During the most violent period of Northern Ireland’s troubled history along with his predecessor as leader of the SDLP, Gerry Fitt, he provided unwavering political leadership to Northern Ireland’s nationalist community based upon non-violence and reconciliation which was in marked contrast to the IRA’s sterile campaign of terrorist violence.

His success in persuading major United States politicians to back his approach paved the way for the peace process as also did his courageous decision to engage with Gerry Adams, for which he was unfairly vilified.

These two actions paved the way for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

The subsequent award of the Nobel Peace Prize to John Hume and David Trimble was well deserved.

Senator George Mitchell encapsulated their joint achievement accurately and succinctly when he said “Without John Hume, there would not have been a peace process, without David Trimble, there would not have been an agreement”.

His political contribution to peace on this island cannot be overestimated.

My personal condolences to his wife Pat and their five children on their personal loss.

John Cushnahan, Former Alliance Party leader and Fine Gael MEP, a political contemporary of Mr Hume in Northern Ireland in 1970s-80s and in European Parliament in 1980s-90s

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