Tributes to 'a champion of peace'

Politicians and church leaders paid tribute to the legacy of the 92-year-old retired cleric who died on Thursday night in Belfast City Hospital where he was being treated having fallen seriously ill four days ago.

Cardinal Daly had been Catholic Primate of all Ireland from 1990 until 1996 and was praised for helping to build the peace process and improve community relations in Northern Ireland.

The current Catholic Primate, Cardinal Sean Brady, who visited Cardinal Daly in hospital, led tributes to his predecessor.

He said: "It is difficult to do full justice to the significance and achievements of his long, full and happy life.

"But I believe, when fully assessed and appreciated, the legacy of Cardinal Cahal Daly to the ecclesiastical and civil history of Ireland will be seen as immense."

Cardinal Daly's term in office was a period of history dominated by the violence of the Troubles.

He had served as Bishop in the Down and Connor area from the early 1980s, a diocese which includes Belfast, and he became closely associated with both religious and political issues.

The Co Antrim-born churchman was an outspoken critic of violence, and particularly of the activities of the paramilitary IRA.

He took on the post of Catholic Primate at the age of 73 and was a surprise choice for the position, but became a prominent figure.

He retired in October 1996, when Cardinal Brady took over the role, and returned to his study of philosophy.

His later years in office had coincided with revelations of child sex abuse cases involving members of the Catholic clergy in Ireland.

As the controversy grew, Cardinal Daly denied at the time that there had been a cover-up of abuse cases and guidelines were introduced for Bishops in the Church shortly before he left office on the grounds of his age.

Cardinal Daly was renowned for a being a prolific author and has had many philosophical papers and books published.

He was also praised for his work with Irish Bishops on the New Ireland Forum in the 1980s and leading a delegation on the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in the 1990s, both of which were set up to explore ways of ending violence in Northern Ireland.

Presbyterian Moderator Dr Stafford Carson also paid tribute to Cardinal Daly.

"His County Antrim roots, of which he was always proud, gave him a deep understanding of the essential part that Presbyterians have played in the history of our community, something he was always happy to explain to others," he said.

He added: "Completely and totally opposed to violence, he was an outspoken critic of the armed campaign of the IRA and recognised that any future arrangements for the governance of Northern Ireland had to involve Unionist and Nationalist, Protestant and Catholic in order to create a community in which everyone could feel at home."

Sinn Fein's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "It is no secret during the conflict that Republicans and Cardinal Daly never enjoyed a close relationship.

"However in the course of recent years I met with him on numerous occasions all of which were friendly and warm encounters.

"So it was with genuine sadness this evening that I learnt of his passing at hospital in Belfast. I would wish to extend my condolences to Cardinal Daly's family, friends and colleagues within the Church at this sad time."

Former prime minister Tony Blair, who played a pivotal role in bringing about the Good Friday peace agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998, praised the Cardinal's contribution to ending the violence of the Troubles.

He said: "Cardinal Daly's death is a real loss to the lives of the people of the island of Ireland. He made a significant contribution to delivering peace as he worked to break down barriers between communities."

President of Ireland Mary McAleese said: "Cardinal Cahal Daly had a long and distinguished career and will be fondly remembered by many people on this island."

Irish Premier, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, said Cardinal Daly was a man of great intellect and humanity who had made a huge contribution to both the Catholic Church and civic society in Ireland.

"Cardinal Daly was a trenchant supporter of peace," he said. "He was an outspoken critic of those who used violence to achieve political objectives."

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward said: "His life was and will remain an inspiration to so many."

The Cardinal's remains will arrive at St Peter's Cathedral in west Belfast at noon today. Tomorrow they will be brought to St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh, Ireland's ecclesiastical capital, where the funeral Mass will be on Tuesday at noon.