Denis Bradley was born in Buncrana, County Donegal, but has spent most of his adult life in Derry city. He is a former priest, who has also worked as a counsellor and set up shelters for the homeless and treatment centres for alcohol and drug addiction. He was the first vice chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, set up to oversee the actions of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and as a member of the so-called ' backchannel', who acted as go-betweens for the IRA and the British government, was instrumental in helping bring about the Good Friday Agreement.