Robinson: Mandela ‘lived the values he talked about’

Former president Mary Robinson has paid tribute to Nelson Mandela as a man “who lived the values he talked about”.

Ms Robinson represented Ireland as president when Mandela became the first democratically elected leader of South Africa in 1994.

“The honour of representing Ireland at his inauguration was extraordinary. After all, there had been fighting before the voting — and then the long lines of those who voted — and how he created the ‘rainbow nation’ by forgiving his enemies. He had one of his jailors at his inauguration,” she said.