Oh God! Gerry was someone for whom I had an awful lot of time, and I had no idea that he had been ill. So the news has come like a bolt from the blue.

He was a very solid character, extremely warm and welcoming, and a damned good socialist with a very strong humane conscience. And I have some wonderful memories of those South Armagh singing weekends.

Spare a thought for Rita and the rest of the family.