Irish priest helped broker ETA ceasefire

A BELFAST priest who witnessed the IRA decommissioning helped broker the permanent ceasefire with Basque separatist group ETA.

Speaking from Bilbao, Fr Alec Reid said ETA’s decision had been influenced by the success of peace efforts in the North.

In 2003, Fr Reid was first called on by Basque nationalists to negotiate a ceasefire between the Spanish government and the separatist group.