The former SDLP leader and Nobel peace prize winner for efforts in forging the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, John Hume has died in the early hours of Monday morning August 3, 2020 following a short illness.
Hume’s family made the announcement in a statement shortly after his demise.
Report by the mirror news indicates that the former Foyle MP and MEP had suffered dementia in his final years which made it difficult for him to remember his role in the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 and has been in Owen Mor nursing home in Derry.
In 1968 Mr Hume took a founding role in the Derry Credit Union and Derry Housing Association before leading the non-violent Civil Rights Movement until late1969.
He later formed the SDLP in 1970 and served as its Leader and Deputy Leader before he opened contact with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams in1988 in a crucial breakthrough in the peace process.
In 1994, Hume took part in historic talks at Leinster House involving then taoiseach Albert Reynolds and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams
In July 1997, a ceasefire was called leading to Northern Secretary Mo Mowlam inviting Sinn Féin into multi-party talks at Stormont which was chaired by US Senator George Mitchell that led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement on 10 April 1998.
Later in autumn that year, the Nobel Committee awarded Peace Prize to the two people who were at the heart of the peace process in the civil-war-torn province and Hume one of them together with the then leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, David Trimble.
In 2001, Hume resigned as leader of the SDLP, citing ill health and had been in Derry and his holiday home in Co Donegal.
