John Hume family express deepest thanks to nursing care staff and people of Derry and Inishowen

In a statement released following his death his family said: "The care they have shown John in the last months of his life has been exceptional.

"As a family, we are unfailingly inspired by the professionalism, compassion and love they have shown to John and all those under their care. We can never adequately show them our thanks for looking after John at a time when we could not. The family drew great comfort in being with John again in the last days of his life."

The people of Derry and Inishowen for whom the late Mr. Hume worked as a political representative for much of his life were also thanked for the care they had shown to him in his later years.

"We would like also to extend our gratitude to the people of Derry and Moville/Greencastle, who have looked after John and shown us to much kindness as his dementia has progressed.

"Celebrating community in all its diversity went to the heart of John's political ethos and we are very appreciative that our communities supported, respected and protected John.

"John was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather and a brother. He was very much loved, and his loss will be deeply felt by all his extended family," the statement read.

The family signed off the statement with the title of the gospel-turned-protest song with which the later Nobel laureate was so closely associated.

"It seems particularly apt for these strange and fearful days to remember the phrase that gave hope to John and so many of us through dark times: we shall overcome," they stated.