Former Northern Ireland Secretary Patrick Mayhew dies

The former Secretary of Northern Ireland Patrick Mayhew has died.

He played a central role in peace talks and was involved in the negotiating of the 1993 Downing Street Declaration, formulated by then British prime minister John Major and then Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.

The deal eventually brought about an IRA ceasefire.

Mr Mayhew's family said he passed away peacefully today at the age of 86, following a long battle with Parkinson's and cancer.

My sympathy & condolences to the family of late Northern Sec Patrick Mayhew. He was dedicated to peace in times of great strife & challenge.

— Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) June 25, 2016

The ex-Cabinet minister was at the eye of the storm again during the Spycatcher affair when he attempted to block the publication of former MI5 agent Peter Wright's memoirs for the Thatcher government.

He was also angrily accused by Irish politicians of being behind the decision not to prosecute RUC officers implicated by the Stalker affair.

He is survived by his wife Jean Mayhew, their four sons and their families.