Lord Trimble, original first minister of Northern Ireland and co-author of Good Friday Agreement, died at age 77.
“It with great sadness that family of Lord Trimble announces that he passed away peacefully today after a short illness.
His tough stance on controversial Orange Order parades in 1990s won him guidance of Ulster Unionist Party.
But David Trimble was a trade unionist who dared to compromise and brought his party at the negotiating table in Stormont.
Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach (Irish prime minister), said: “I think history remember him as a politician who, in really hard time when we tried to finish 30 years of violence, in despite of all standing up and put his name on that agreement.
“It allowed us bring peace to Northern Ireland and allowed us to progress.”
Their contribution to the peace process earned David Trimble and fellow nationalist John Hume, Nobel Prize 1998 for World.
Read more: Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin says UK does not ‘fully understand’ Good Friday deal
He was first man to be elected first minister of Northern Irelandholding office from 1998 to 2002.
But rise of Sinn Féin before the IRA decommissioned the gun made him take another jump of Vera.
“We did our job,” he said. in November 1999, “Mr. Adams, this over you. We jumped, you follow.”
Lord David Trimble with US President Bill Clinton and prime minister Tony Blair in Belfast in 2000
David Kerr was David Trimble’s press secretary in those stormy days in Stormont politics and knew him better than most.
He said, “I believe history be kind to David Trimble.
“I think when historians look back objectively with longer perspective over terms of what happened before and after the Good Friday Agreement, I think they will understand the key role what did he play in transformation politics here.”
He brought wrath upon himself of anti-agreement Unionists, eventually losing their Upper Bann seat in Westminster to the Democratic Unionist Party.
Raised to Lordship, David Trimble never expressed regret for compromise, calling the Good Friday Agreement its greatest achievement.
In a recent interview for Sky News, he said, “It was first the time when we had an agreement within the political parties of Northern Ireland that was accepted by all of them.
“It created a situation where we could continue in context in which you may have disagreements.”
Lawyer, academic and statesman David Trimble will be remembered for his ability see what others couldn’t, potential for lasting peace.
