Ex-leader of North's Alliance Party Napier dies

The first leader of the North's Alliance Party, Oliver Napier, has died.

Tributes have been paid to the 75-year-old, who was remembered as a statesman and visionary.

The Alliance was founded in 1970 to appeal to both Catholics and Protestants and heal divisions in communities.

Mr Napier was its first leader from 1973 to 1984 and was also an Alliance Minister in the 1974 Stormont powersharing Executive.

Alliance Leader David Ford said his death was an extremely sad day for Northern Ireland.

“Oliver was a statesman and a visionary,” said Mr Forde. “His vision was of a united Northern Ireland and he put his heart and soul into bringing that about.

“He was ahead of his time but the vision he had is demonstrated in all the excellent work being done to improve community relations in Northern Ireland.”

He sent his deepest sympathies to Mr Napier's family on behalf of the entire Alliance Party, now the North's fifth largest party.