David Cameron tribute to 15 years of Belfast accord

THE Prime Minister has led tributes to the architects of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland on its 15th anniversary.

David Cameron said the 1998 political accord, which brought about devolution after the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries declared ceasefires, heralded a new beginning after decades of division and terrorism.

But he warned more remained to be done to build a new Northern Ireland.

“It represented a massive step forward from what has gone before, a clear manifestation that politics and democracy would triumph over violence,” he said.

“For that the architects of the agreement, and those who displayed remarkable political courage in pushing it forward, deserve our thanks.”

The Good Friday Agreement was reached on 10 April, 1998, after nearly two years of talks – a process chaired by former US senator George Mitchell.