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07/11/2008
Former RUC Chief Dies
'Jack' Hermon, the former Chief Constable of the RUC has died.
He was in charge of the Royal Ulster Constabulary between 1980 and 1989 having originally joined the force in 1951.
His widow, Lady Sylvia Hermon, is now the Ulster Unionist Party's only MP. She has held the North Down seat since 2001.
Sir John Hermon had Alzheimer's disease for several years and died in a nursing home in Bangor, Co Down, on Thursday evening.
His period as the force's chief constable was one of the most turbulent periods of the Troubles, including the 1981 republican hunger strikes and probes into the controversial so-called shoot-to-kill allegations made against the RUC.
Sir John was also in command when the RUC suffered its biggest single loss of the troubles, when nine officers were murdered in an IRA mortar attack on Newry police station in 1985.
He remained a target for republicans long after leaving office - last year he had to be moved from another nursing home because of a threat.
NI First Minister Peter Robinson commented today: "Jack Hermon was the Chief Constable of the RUC at a very difficult time in Northern Ireland's history.
"As the leading police officer in Northern Ireland during this period he was to the fore of the battle against terrorism and he played a leading role in stamping it out.
"As well as being a tough, professional police officer, Sir Jack was also a committed family man."
The Chairman of the Policing Board, Professor Sir Desmond Rea has also expressed his sympathy.
He said: "I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to Lady Sylvia Hermon on the death of her husband, former Chief Constable Sir John Hermon.
"Sir Jack served in the RUC for 38 years, leading the service as Chief Constable from 1980 to 1989 during some very challenging times in our history. His death follows a long illness and our thoughts are with his family at this time."
In a statement today, the Hermon family said: "It is with enormous sadness that the family of Sir Jack Hermon announce his death, after a long and valiant struggle against the ravages of Alzheimer's.
"He passed away very peacefully at teatime yesterday in a nursing home in Bangor. Members of his immediate family, including his wife, Sylvia, had been with him throughout the day," the statement said.
(BMcC)
He was in charge of the Royal Ulster Constabulary between 1980 and 1989 having originally joined the force in 1951.
His widow, Lady Sylvia Hermon, is now the Ulster Unionist Party's only MP. She has held the North Down seat since 2001.
Sir John Hermon had Alzheimer's disease for several years and died in a nursing home in Bangor, Co Down, on Thursday evening.
His period as the force's chief constable was one of the most turbulent periods of the Troubles, including the 1981 republican hunger strikes and probes into the controversial so-called shoot-to-kill allegations made against the RUC.
Sir John was also in command when the RUC suffered its biggest single loss of the troubles, when nine officers were murdered in an IRA mortar attack on Newry police station in 1985.
He remained a target for republicans long after leaving office - last year he had to be moved from another nursing home because of a threat.
NI First Minister Peter Robinson commented today: "Jack Hermon was the Chief Constable of the RUC at a very difficult time in Northern Ireland's history.
"As the leading police officer in Northern Ireland during this period he was to the fore of the battle against terrorism and he played a leading role in stamping it out.
"As well as being a tough, professional police officer, Sir Jack was also a committed family man."
The Chairman of the Policing Board, Professor Sir Desmond Rea has also expressed his sympathy.
He said: "I would like to pass on my sincere condolences to Lady Sylvia Hermon on the death of her husband, former Chief Constable Sir John Hermon.
"Sir Jack served in the RUC for 38 years, leading the service as Chief Constable from 1980 to 1989 during some very challenging times in our history. His death follows a long illness and our thoughts are with his family at this time."
In a statement today, the Hermon family said: "It is with enormous sadness that the family of Sir Jack Hermon announce his death, after a long and valiant struggle against the ravages of Alzheimer's.
"He passed away very peacefully at teatime yesterday in a nursing home in Bangor. Members of his immediate family, including his wife, Sylvia, had been with him throughout the day," the statement said.
(BMcC)
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Maverick Ulster Unionist Sylvia Hermon's position within the party still remains vague following a lengthy meeting with Sir Reg Empey at the weekend. North Down MP Lady Hermon, the UUP's sole House of Commons voice, has indicated her distaste for Sir Reg's electoral link-up with the UK Tory Party.
Hermon's Future Still Uncertain
Maverick Ulster Unionist Sylvia Hermon's position within the party still remains vague following a lengthy meeting with Sir Reg Empey at the weekend. North Down MP Lady Hermon, the UUP's sole House of Commons voice, has indicated her distaste for Sir Reg's electoral link-up with the UK Tory Party.
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