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Outgoing DUP leader Edwin Poots has described the death of party colleague and former MLA Gordon Dunne as a \u201chuge shock\u201d.<\/p>\nOutgoing DUP leader Edwin Poots has described the death of party colleague and former MLA Gordon Dunne as a \u201chuge shock\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Dunne, 62, who had recently stood down from his position as an MLA for North Down, died at the weekend.<\/p>\n
He had served as a councilor for decades before he was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2011.<\/p>\n
Mr Poots said party colleagues had known that Mr Dunne had been facing serious challenges as he battled illness.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cHowever, the news of his passing is a huge shock to us all.<\/p>\n
Outgoing DUP leader Edwin Poots paid tribute following the death of his party colleague Gordon Dunne (Mark Marlow\/PA)
\n\u201cGordon\u2019s good humor and positive attitude were a shining example to us all and he will be sorely missed by everyone associated with the DUP.<\/p>\n
\u201cGordon was more than a colleague, he was a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Poots continued: \u201cMy thoughts are with the Dunne family as they grieve at this time. I hope they can find some comfort in the many tributes that will be paid to someone who was always so willing to help others through his long career as a public representative.<\/p>\n
\u201cGordon\u2019s faith, his family and a passion for motorsport were important to him. His friendly disposition, honest character and hard-working nature made him a very special person. His Christian character shone through in everything he done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Party chairman Maurice Morrow said: \u201cGordon was a committed unionist and dedicated public representative and his loss will be keenly felt by people from across Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI counted Gordon as both a colleague and friend over many decades and my prayers are with the Dunne family at this time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe tributes paid from across the political spectrum when Gordon stepped down from public life were testament to the esteem Gordon was held in by all those he worked with.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a party and a country we are much poorer for the loss of someone like Gordon Dunne.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former DUP leader and ex-first minister Arlene Foster tweeted: \u201cThis is such terribly sad news. Someone who always put his constituents first and was a great public servant.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy deepest sympathy to his wife and children at this awful time for the family. He will be sorely missed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in Finance Minister Conor Murphy told the BBC: \u201cI worked with Gordon. I chaired the Economy Committee for a time in 2016\/17 and Gordon was a member of the committee, I have to say I was very fond of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a very decent man, very constructive in the work he did in the committee. He was a very long-serving member of the Economy Committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was saddened to hear that he had retired due to ill health and I, like others, was shocked at the suddenness of his passing and I wish to offer my sympathy to his family and to his party colleagues as well.\u201d<\/p>\n