He had a greater understanding of the unionist position than most politicians in the Republic and for that was dubbed ‘John Unionist’ by Albert Reynolds
John Bruton, who has died aged 76, was Fine Gael prime minister of the Irish Republic from 1994 to 1997, as peace in the North remained frustratingly out of reach. Apparently in sight when Bruton took office, it would only be achieved on Good Friday 1998 under his Fianna Fail successor, Bertie Ahern.