The death has taken place of Mr Gerry Adams senior (77), father of the Sinn Féin president.
Mr Adams, a veteran republican and former prisoner, had been ill and died yesterday at the Royal Victoria Hospital on the Falls Road in Belfast.
Mr Adams made a short statement to reporters before the launch of the Sinn Féin manifesto which he was due to present. The party manifesto was presented instead by Mr Martin McGuinness.
SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan expressed condolences to Mr Adams on behalf of his party.
