The funeral of former Sinn Fein adviser Ted Howell has taken place in west Belfast.
Mr Howell, who was 78, was a close ally and friend of former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams.
He was a backroom figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, and was also Sinn Fein’s ex-director of foreign affairs.
Hundreds of mourners gathered for his funeral in west Belfast on Tuesday.
A service took place in his late residence in the Lenadoon area before Mr Howell was buried at Milltown Cemetery.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and former party leader Gerry Adams carried Mr Howell’s coffin.
Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams attending the funeral of Ted Howell. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
During Mr Adams’ time as party president, one Sinn Fein employee described Mr Howell as “the real leader of Sinn Fein”, while a senior republican described him to The Irish Times as the “backroom backroom man”.
His role came under scrutiny after it emerged Sinn Fein finance minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir sent an email to Mr Howell in 2017, days before he approved cost-cutting measures to the controversial Renewable Heat Incentive, asking if Mr Howell would be “content” for him to sign off on his recommendations.
Mr Ó Muilleoir denied the email was seeking Mr Howell’s permission, saying it was a “courtesy” to keep him informed.
But it fuelled criticism that Sinn Fein was ultimately controlled by figures outside the public eye.
Ted Howell (right) with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness
A funeral notice said Mr Howell passed away peacefully at home and was the dearly beloved husband of the late Eileen and loving father to Proinnsias and Eamonn.
“Much loved father-in-law to Karen and Nora,” added the death notice. “Devoted granda to Micéal, Caoimhe and Amelia. Cherished brother to Anne, Margaret and the late Jim and Kathleen.”
“Ted will be loved and missed always by his heartbroken sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, sisters and entire family circle,” read his death notice.
In Mr Adams’ tribute on Friday, he spoke of his “deep sense of personal loss and sadness at the death of my good friend of many years”.
“Ted Howell was a stalwart in the struggle for Irish freedom for over 50 years,” he said.
Pall bearers carry the coffin of Ted Howell as it passes though west Belfast after a funeral service. Liam McBurney/PA Wire
“He and his late wife Eileen Duffy were, with others, central figures in the Irish struggle.
“During his many years of activism, Ted played a leadership role in the evolution of republican politics.
“He had a steadfast commitment to anti-sectarianism and principled democratic republican values.”
Ms O’Neill said Mr Howell’s contribution to the building of a conflict resolution process in Ireland was largely unseen but was “one of the firm building blocks” that has delivered the transformation of our society and the peace and progress seen today.
“Ted was a leading light in the development of the Sinn Féin peace strategy, authoring key policy papers in the internal debates that resulted in the Irish peace process,” Ms O’Neill added.