English-born and of unionist stock, dedicated peacemaker Martin Mansergh was the most unlikely Soldier of Destiny

I last met Martin Mansergh at the end of June in the coffee shop of the National Gallery in Dublin. It was one of his regular haunts and where, almost 40 years ago, he first met the Redemptorist priest Fr Alec Reid, in a dialogue that became pivotal to the Northern Ireland peace process.