Joe Cahill1920-2004

FOR most of his life a senior IRA figure, Joe Cahill was Sinn Féin vice-president when he died last Friday, aged 84.

A friend and confidant of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, Cahill played a key role in getting backing for the peace process in later years.

Mr Adams described him as “an unapologetic physical force republican who fought when he felt that was the only option, but he also stood significantly for peace”.