Nobel Peace Laureate and former SDLP leader John Hume.

The Co-operative Party NI are deeply saddened to learn of the death of the Nobel Peace Laureate and former SDLP leader John Hume.

Party Chair Tony McMullan said “ This is an incredibly sad day when one of the Giants of Northern Ireland politics has passed on. John Hume started his Community engagement through the Credit Union Movement, a great Co-operative enterprise. He based his politics on a number of key principles, total opposition to political violence, the need for full Civil Rights in Voting, Housing, Economic and Social Rights, & the need for the various political allegiances in Northern Ireland to be fully respected. All of these are shared by our Party. Now in relative peace, it would be easy to take peace for granted but to those who lived through the horrific violence and bitter sectarianism, we recognise that there needed to be a Civil Rights Movement and laterally a Peace Strategy. Those were led by John Hume & others sometimes in the most difficult of circumstances. He showed enormous bravery and determination to make things better for others. Northern Ireland owes him a great deal. We extend our very sincere condolences to John Hume’s wife Pat, his wider family circle, the SDLP family, and the people of his beloved Derry “. For further details contact Tony McMullan @ 07902617095 or tony.mcmullan@outlook.com