NI Assembly recalled for tributes to Lord Trimble

Northern Ireland's political leaders returned to Stormont for a special sitting to pay tributes to Nobel Peace Prize winner David Trimble.

MLAs observed a minute's silence and signed a book of condolence in memory of one of the key architects of the 1998 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement which ended decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Lord Trimble died last week at the age of 77 following an illness.

• Tributes paid to David Trimble following his death at the age of 77

• World leaders travel to Lisburn for David Trimble's funeral

The former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party was jointly awarded the Nobel prize with late SDLP leader John Hume in recognition of their efforts to stop the bloodshed and establish a power-sharing system of devolved governance in the region.

He then served as the Northern Ireland's inaugural first minister.

The Stormont institutions are currently in limbo, with the DUP blocking the creation of a powersharing administration in protest at Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Irish President Michael D Higgins were among the mourners who gathered at Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church in Lisburn, Co Antrim, on Monday for the funeral of Lord Trimble.

Rev Dr Charles McMullen appealed at the funeral service for politicians to use the occasion as inspiration to redouble their efforts to resolve their differences over the protocol.

• Mourners told David Trimble's funeral should provide inspiration to break political impasse in NI

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