Businessman who became secret channel between the British and the IRA

Born: June 10, 1936;

Died: May 12, 2017

BRENDAN Duddy, who has died aged 80, was a Northern Irish businessman who played an important but little-known role in securing peace in Northern Ireland.

For many years, he was known as The Contact by both sides and became a channel between the British authorities and the IRA in talks that ultimately led to the IRA's 1994 ceasefire and the Good Friday peace agreement four years later.

The clandestine connections - at a time when British public opinion would not tolerate talking to terrorists - were held in all kinds of locations, including Duddy's own home, with the IRA men often smuggled across the border with the acquiescence of the secret services.

The contact lasted from the 1970s into the 1990s. Duddy was also the most important link between then prime minister Margaret Thatcher and the IRA during the 1981 hunger strikes.

Duddy was born into a Catholic family in the Bogside area of Londonderry and as a young man opened a fish and chip shop that soon became a thriving business. At one point, a young Martin McGuinness, who become second-in-command in the IRA and later deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, worked for Duddy doing deliveries.

Duddy's role in the peace talks came about first through his friend Frank Lagan, who was chief superintendent of the RUC. Because of his friendship with Lagan, Duddy was approached by British Intelligence, specifically Michael Oatley, who was officially a political advisor to William Whitelaw, the Northern Ireland Secretary, but was actually an MI6 agent.

Before long, Duddy was brokering secret meetings between Oatley and IRA leaders - at great personal risk to himself. On one occasion, he was interrogated by the IRA when they believed Duddy had sent false messages back to the British; on another, he recalls hearing IRA men discussing whether or not they should kill him.

One of Duddy's first successes was brokering an IRA ceasefire in 1975 that lasted for several months. His influence also helped lead to the 1994 ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. According to Jonathan Powell, former chief of staff to Tony Blaire who was involved in the negotiations that led to the agreement, Duddy was key to the successful outcome.

Duddy remained closely involved in the peace process for the rest of his life while building his business, acquiring and running a number of hotels.

Among those to pay tribute to him after his death was Sinn Fein's Elisha McCallion. "Brendan was a key figure in the business life of Derry for decades and was widely respected across the city and beyond," she said.

"He also played a significant role in the development of the peace process over many years and his contribution, together with others, helped end the conflict and promoted reconciliation.

"His firm belief in dialogue also helped resolve parading issues and, through his membership of the Policing Board he helped shape the accountable policing we have today. "

Brendan Duddy is survived by his wife Margo and his six children.