Christopher Stalford: DUP MLA was 'humble, loving and kind'

DUP MLA Christopher Stalford was "humble, forgiving, loving and kind", mourners at his funeral have been told.

The Reverend Marty Gray paid tribute to Mr Stalford as a family man who put his four children ahead of his career.

Mr Stalford was the principal deputy speaker at the Northern Ireland Assembly. He held a seat in South Belfast.

His service was held at Ravenhill Presbyterian Church, after his sudden death a week ago.

Mr Gray said Mr Stalford adored his four children - Trinity, Oliver, Cameron and Abigail.

He met his wife, Laura, when they were children and began dating as teenagers, the service on Saturday heard. They were later married by the late Reverend Ian Paisley.

"Today we grieve for the years ahead he will not see, and for the ambitions he will not get to fulfil," Mr Gray said.

North Belfast assembly member (MLA) William Humphrey said the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had lost a most able and valued colleague.

By Mark Simpson, BBC News NI correspondent

Christopher Stalford's political friends and foes came together under the same roof to say goodbye.

Amid the devastation at his sudden death, there were lighter moments as mourners remembered a politician known for his good humour and quick wit as well as his political principles.

He was a unionist to the core, but among the congregation were leading members of Sinn Féin.

There were also Ulster Unionists with whom he had many political battles within Belfast City Hall and Stormont.

One of the reasons for the widespread respect for him was that when it came to a political jibe, he could take it as well give it.

As the traffic was stopped, and his coffin was slowly carried down the Ravenhill Road in south Belfast after the service, one of his party colleagues remarked: "We are going to miss him. Every political party needs a Christopher Stalford."

Mr Stalford's "outstanding young life has been taken far too soon", Mr Humphrey told mourners.

"He was a strong, articulate and consummate performer," he added.

"He was unique, a true character with a huge intellect, an acerbic wit with an infectious laugh. He was a man of considerable talent."

DUP MLAs and MPs, including Paul Givan, Mervyn Storey, Ian Paisley and Gregory Campbell, were among the first to arrive for the service.

Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey and his Sinn Féin party colleagues John O'Dowd and Deirdre Hargey were also in attendance.

Also at the service were Ulster Unionist (UUP) leader Doug Beattie, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister, Alliance leader Naomi Long, Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) MP Claire Hanna, former DUP leader Peter Robinson, PSNI deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, loyalist Jackie McDonald and the grand secretary of the Orange Order, the Reverend Mervyn Gibson.

The UK government was represented by Northern Ireland Office minister Lord Caine.

Outside the church, two election posters used previously by Mr Stalford were tied to the railings.

After his death, there were tributes from politicians on all sides at Stormont and also from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Following his death, Mr Stalford's family issued a statement saying "Laura and the Stalford family thank everyone for their kind messages and lovely words in recent days, they have been so comforting to the family at this incredibly sad time."

Before being elected to Stormont in 2016, Mr Stalford served on Belfast City Council, where he was deputy mayor and high sheriff of the city.