A woman who was honoured for her peace-building work in Northern Ireland has passed away, with her family saying she will be remembered for her “selfless and humble” nature.
Mary Montague sadly passed away on in the early hours of Friday, September 20, in the Royal Victoria Hospital where she was cared for with warmth and compassion.
Mary dedicated her life to peace. For decades, she acted as a mediator in the Northern Ireland conflict and made a significant contribution to reconciling the communities.
The west Belfast woman had also mediated in other areas of crisis throughout the world.
In recent years she had been receiving treatment for cancer.
Paying tribute, her family said: “Mary was a devoted wife and loving mother, to her children and scores of foster-children over 20 years. She was fun-loving and generous with a big heart.
“For forty years Mary was an impassioned peace activist bringing together disparate and in spite of the risk to her own personal safety.
“She also gave a voice to the many community groups where she worked.
“Her quiet, authentic and unassuming approach helped lead to a reduction in violence, making space for dialogue.”
With her strong sense of courage and justice she was able to gain the trust of all conflicting parties.
She was asked to act as a go-between with armed groups and the police to reduce the use of violence.
Mary was able to restore calm and to persuade hostile parties to take part in inter-community peace talks.
Her dedication also led to ensuring the community voice from the grassroots was heard, her work supported the development of the ceasefires and Good Friday Agreement.
She walked alongside communities, government organisations, victims and survivors, ex-combatants and church representatives.
As a result of Mary´s mediation work, she had to live for years with a death threat but she never gave up.
It was of great importance to her to see all the community on a path of reconciliation.
She wanted to pass on her methods of conflict management and therefore, in the year 2000, she co-founded the organisation TIDES training.
It gave individuals, ex-combatant groups and security forces from Northern Ireland the opportunity to talk about their experiences and heal the wounds of division.
Mary Montague along with husband, Patrick, the late Bishop Desmond Tutu and Nomalizo Tutu.
Mary’s successes led to her involvement in international peace building in the Balkans, Africa, South America and Asia, winning the mediator award from Mediators Beyond Borders.
She was a founder member of Women Waging Peace.
In recognition of her work, Mary was the winner of the Lifetime Exceptional Achievement Award in peace building from the Community Relations Council NI.
Her family said Mary bore her illness with patience and dignity, nonetheless she said, “as long as I have the use of my mind, I will speak out for Northern Ireland”.
A beautiful new grandson had given Mary hope for the future. “He’s a new citizen for the assembly to look after and that’s important for me as well, the children and the future of our children.
“It’s what brought me in to peace building.”
Reflecting on how they’d like Mary to be remembered, her family said: “In all her roles Mary has been recognised as selfless, humble and dedicated to the well-being of others regardless of their status ethnicity or background.”