Death of David Ervine - Vacuum in loyalism will be hard to fill

THE passing of David Ervine, leader of the Progressive Unionist Party, leaves a vacuum in loyalist politics that will be hard to fill.

Amid the discord of the North, his voice was articulate, logical and unambiguous.

While his own political clout was somewhat limited, he is generally acknowledged as a key figure in persuading loyalist paramilitaries to move away from violence. The 53-year-old Assembly member and Belfast city councillor had a significant role in bringing extreme loyalism in from the cold.