19/03/2020

Nobel Prize Winner Betty Williams Dies

Tributes have been paid following the death of Nobel laureate and peace activist Betty Williams.

Ms Williams, who co-founded the Peace People movement in Northern Ireland in 1976, passed away on Tuesday at age 76.

She formed the organisation alongside Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Ciaran McKeown, setting out to encourage a peaceful resolution to the troubles.

Later that year, Williams and Maguire were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.

Paying tribute to her friend and former colleague, who leaves behind daughter Debbie and son Paul, Ms Maguire said: "It is with the greatest sadness that I heard of the death of my friend and co-worker for peace Betty Williams. Betty was a woman of great courage with a passion for peace and a love and compassion for all children. Betty will be sadly missed but remembered lovingly by all of us who knew Betty. I felt privileged to know her as a great peace activist and friend."

Ms Williams emigrated to America but returned to Ireland later in life, appearing in Belfast in January of this year alongside Hollywood film star Sharon Stone to sign a book of condolence for the late SDLP leader Seamus Mallon.



(JG/CM)

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