Stormont gathers for tribute to Trimble

THE crisis-hit Stormont Assembly has reconvened for a special sitting to pay tribute to David Trimble, one of the principal architects of the devolved institutions in Belfast.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party died last week at the age of 77 following an illness.

He was buried on Monday after a funeral service that was attended by dignitaries including President Michael D Higgins, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Britain’s Boris Johnson, The powersharing structures Mr Trimble helped create in the landmark Good Friday Agreement of 1998 are currently in limbo, with the DUP blocking the creation of a governing executive in protest at Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol.

Despite the impasse, party whips agreed to hold a special gathering in the chamber of Parliament Buildings yesterday to allow for tributes to be paid to Mr Trimble.

Current UUP leader Doug Beattie said it could be difficult for the current generation of MLAs to fully understand the impact the unionist statesman had on the North’s politics.

Stormont’s inaugural first minister was jointly awarded the Nobel prize with late SDLP leader John Hume in recognition of their efforts to end the Troubles and establish a powersharing system of devolved governance in the region. Mr Beattie said that before 1998 unionists and nationalists would not be seen in the same room together, ‘never mind share a handshake or form a government with joint responsibilities’.

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill said: ‘History will be kind to David Trimble for the huge part he played, but it will be unforgiving to those of you who obstruct progress or refuse to show leadership.’