Bertie Ahern praises work of embattled Trimble

The former Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble will be remembered as a man of courage who took risks for peace, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said today.

He said the 60-year old politician, who resigned as leader of his party yesterday, was a tenacious defender of the interests of the Unionist people of Northern Ireland.

“The historic achievement of the Good Friday Agreement would not have been possible without him. He is owed an enormous debt of gratitude by everyone who shares a vision of this island reconciled and at peace,” he said.

Mr Trimble twice persuaded his party to go into Assembly government with Sinn Féin on the understanding that weapons decommissioning would follow – and then pulled out when only limited amounts of weapons were put beyond use.

His contribution to the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement was rewarded in 1998 when he shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the then SDLP leader John Hume.

Mr Ahern said he had valued his relationship with Mr Trimble and greatly regretted his departure.

“History will remember him as a man of courage who took risks for peace and who played a decisive role at a critical time in the history of Ireland.”

He added that Mr Trimble had left an enormous and valuable legacy.

Mr Trimble resigned as party leader after the loss of his own House of Commons seat to Democratic Unionist Party candidate David Simpson and his party’s disastrous election result.

When he became the surprise choice to lead the party in 1995 the UUP was riding high with 11 MPs to the DUP’s two.

Following Thursday’s General Election the UUP now hold just one seat – Lady Sylvia Hermon in North Down – and the DUP hold nine.