BRITAIN’S QUEEN ELIZABETH has issued a short statement this morning from Farmleigh, where she is staying during her state visit to Ireland, on the death of former Taoiseach Dr Garret Fitzgerald.

The statement reads:

I was saddened to hear this morning’s news of the death of Garret FitzGerald. A true statesman, he made a lasting contribution to peace and will be greatly missed. Please will you convey my sincere condolences to his family.

Politicians and public figures have been issuing tributes to the former Fine Gael leader since news of his death broke earlier this morning.

FitzGerald passed away after suffering a short illness. Taoiseach Enda Kenny described him as a “truly remarkable man” who had made an “unparalleled contribution to public life in Ireland”.

[caption id="attachment_139692" align="alignnone" width="511" caption="Leaders of the European Community Nations, in London for a two-day conference, pose for a photo with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II when she hosted a luncheon for them at Buckingham Palace on 5 December, 1986. (AP Photo/Michel Lipchitz)"][/caption]

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