He said: "Cardinal Daly was both a deeply spiritual and highly intellectual man who could show great charm at a personal level.

"During the terrible years of the Troubles he offered profound pastoral leadership in the face of violence, injustice, repression and prejudice.

"He provided a steady and sure moral compass through the turbulence and the darkness.

"The whole country, not just his own flock should aspire to the integrity of Cardinal Daly's outlook and outreach in a period of so much hurt and such little hope."

ENDS