Politicians pay tribute at ex-Unionist leader's funeral

A number of leading politicians were among the mourners at the funeral today of former Ulster Unionist leader Harry West.

Several hundred mourners, including Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble and Democratic Unionist leader Ian Paisley, crowded into Enniskillen Presbyterian Church for the funeral service.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone Assembly member Tommy Gallagher was present on behalf of the nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party.

Mr West, who was 86, died at the Erne Hospital on Thursday after a long illness.

The former Fermanagh South Tyrone MP had led the party from 1974 when he replaced Brian Faulkner. He resigned in 1979.

A traditional unionist, he was opposed to the Sunningdale Agreement, which Mr Faulkner signed up to. It included a power-sharing Executive and plans for a Council of Ireland.

He was Stormont MP for Enniskillen from 1954 to 1972 and at one point was Minister for Agriculture in the Stormont government.

Many leading figures paid tribute to Mr West when news of his death was confirmed.

Mr Trimble described him as the “leader of the Ulster Unionist Party at the time of its greatest crisis in 1974 on to 1979.”

Mr Paisley, who helped set up the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC) with Mr West, described him as a man with a great sense of humour, but totally dedicated to his political work.

He said: “Harry West was a traditional unionist. He knew where his unionism lay and he knew what unionist principles were.”

After the service, the former UUP leader was buried at Breandrum Cemetery.