Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness dies aged 66

[webfact]

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness dies aged 66

 

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland's former deputy first minister, has died aged 66.

 

It is understood he had been suffering from a rare heart condition.

 

The former IRA leader turned peacemaker worked at the heart of the power-sharing government following the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.

 

Full story: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-39185899

 

-- © Copyright BBC 2017-03-21

[colinneil]

Well if there is a heaven and hell, he is destined for the latter place.

[Briggsy]

Well, there's the headline for the 9 o'clock news.

 

Might be followed by a spate of revelations.

[Jeremy50]

Good riddance. 

[webfact]

Obituary - IRA street fighter turned statesman, Martin McGuinness dies aged 66

By Conor Humphries

REUTERS

 

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams (R) holds a copy of the Good Friday agreement with Martin McGuinness (L) as they speak to journalists in the Stormont parliament building in Belfast, Northern Ireland October 14, 2002. REUTERS/Darren Staples/File Photo

 

BELFAST (Reuters) - Martin McGuinness, the former Irish Republican Army commander who laid down his arms and turned peacemaker to help end Northern Ireland's 30-year conflict, died on Tuesday after a decade as deputy first minister of the British province.

 

As a young street fighter in Londonderry and later as a politician and statesman, McGuinness saw his mission as defending the rights of the Catholic minority against the pro-British Protestants who for decades dominated Northern Ireland.

 

But for his critics, that cause was never enough to justify the IRA's campaign of bombings and shootings that killed hundreds of British soldiers and civilians.

 

In his later years McGuinness was hailed as a peacemaker for negotiating the 1998 peace deal, sharing power with his bitterest enemy and shaking hands with the Queen, though the gestures were condemned by some former comrades as treachery.

 

He was forced to step down in January, a number of months before a planned retirement, because of an undisclosed illness.

 

At the time a frail and emotional McGuinness told a large group of supporters gathered outside his home in the Bogside area of Northern Ireland's second city that it broke his heart that he had to bow out of politics.

 

"I don't really care how history assesses me, but I'm very proud of where I've come from," McGuinness told Irish national broadcaster RTE.

 

He is survived by his wife, Bernadette, and four children.

 

IRA COMMANDER

 

Born on May 23, 1950 in Londonderry, McGuinness in childhood experienced the contempt which many of the pro-British Protestant government had for the Catholic Irish minority who dreamt of joining with the Irish Republic to the south.

 

A trainee butcher, McGuinness abandoned his apprenticeship in 1970 to join the IRA as the guerrilla group began its 30-year campaign against British rule that Catholics found increasingly intolerable. He swiftly rose to become a senior commander.

 

McGuinness later admitted he was second-in-command of the IRA in Londonderry on "Bloody Sunday" - the day in 1972 when British troops in the city killed 14 unarmed marchers, ushering in the most intense phase of the Troubles.

 

A British government inquiry found McGuinness was probably armed with a sub-machine gun that day, but that he did nothing to justify the troops' decision to open fire on the marchers.

 

In 1973 he was convicted by the Irish Republic's courts of being an IRA member after being stopped in a car packed with explosives and bullets and was briefly jailed.

 

Fellow nationalist inmates recall him as a fierce football player in the exercise yard.

 

He spent years on the run and was banned from entering Britain in 1982, during the IRA's bombing campaign there, under the prevention of terrorism act.

 

POLITICS AND PEACE

 

During the 1980s McGuinness emerged alongside Gerry Adams as a key architect in the electoral rise of Sinn Fein, the IRA's political ally, advocating a strategy of combining the use of the ballot box with that of the Armalite rifle.

 

First elected as a member of the Northern Ireland assembly in 1982, McGuinness played a crucial role in keeping the more militant wing of the IRA on board as elements of the leadership secretly probed the possibility of a negotiated settlement.

 

Following the IRA's second ceasefire in 1997, McGuinness became Sinn Fein's chief negotiator in peace talks that led to the landmark 1998 Good Friday peace accord.

 

Nine years later, the rise of Sinn Fein to become Northern Ireland's largest Irish nationalist party allowed McGuinness to become Deputy First Minister in the power-sharing government with bitter enemy Ian Paisley, the firebrand preacher many Catholics see as a key player in the genesis of the conflict.

 

McGuinness surprised many by forming a close working relationship with Paisley, the media dubbing the pair "the Chuckle Brothers". In 2012 he shook hands with Queen Elizabeth at a charity event in Belfast.

 

Such gestures alienated many former comrades who call him a traitor for helping to run the province while the Union Jack was still flying over it. McGuinness countered it was a stepping stone to their goal of a united Ireland.

 

Over the past decade, Sinn Fein has focused much of its resources on the Republic of Ireland, where it has grown from five to 23 seats of the 166-seat parliament in a decade.

 

A non-smoker, virtual teetotal and keen fisherman, McGuinness briefly moved south in 2011 for a failed run at Ireland's largely ceremonial presidency, wining just under 15 percent of the vote.

 

McGuinness leaves Northern Ireland at peace and hands over to a new generation with Sinn Fein a major political force across the island, and his dream of a united Ireland inching closer after the party recorded its best ever result in an election three weeks before his death.

 

(Additional reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Clarence Fernandez)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-03-21

[Laughing Gravy]

Is that the new modern term now for a thug, enforcer and terrorist-IRA street fighter.  The only worse thing than that title was been given education minister. <deleted>.

 

There will be parties in Belfast tonight.

[Somtamnication]

Now maybe his victims can rest in peace. <removed>

[brewsterbudgen]

I'm no fan of Tony Blair, but his singular achievement was bringing together the likes of McGuinness and Paisley making a peace process that, mainly worked. Credit to all involved and RIP to Martin McGuinness.

[RuamRudy]

56 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Well if there is a heaven and hell, he is destined for the latter place.

I suspect Paisley will be there to welcome him.

[esprit]

Another terrorist made good in the interests of British political correctness. I am sure that I have 100% support from those families for whom he was responsible for, directly or indirectly, their members assassinations'.  If there is a hell then I hope he is there now.

[AhFarangJa]

1 hour ago, Jeremy50 said:

Good riddance. 

You beat me to it, now we just need to get rid of the other one called Adams.......

[daveAustin]

66 years too late but better late than never.

[worgeordie]

Couldn't happen to a better man,Karma does catch up to you  

regards worgeordie

[canopus1969]

Not a day too soon  

[steven100]

so does that mean  we ain't going to his funeral ....

[Bluespunk]

RIP Martin.

[Baerboxer]

39 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

I suspect Paisley will be there to welcome him.

 

And we all thought you were a non believer.

[Baerboxer]

RIP.

 

I loathed him along with all IRA and their supporters. But he, like Ian Paisley, showed that people can change and can work together for the better good. 

He made no excuses for his past, nor did he try and hide it. But he did apologies, unlike many who refuse to, and admit that decisions made at that time now seem wrong looking backwards. He and Paisley formed a formidable working relationship.

Over the last few years he became one of the few sensible voices in British politics. 

 

RIP indeed Martin.

[CharlieH]

Off topic post removed.

[CGW]

Like many I was bought up to believe what I saw on the BBC, never suspecting or even relising they were in fact promoting a brain washing agenda!

Took me many years to realise what a load of baloney we are (were!) fed daily!

Some saw this many years ago & fought for there beliefs, RIP

[MiKT]

Lets hope St Peter doesn't mind the bastard wondering around with a loaded tommy gun if he promises he really, really, but really! does not intend to use it.

 

Freedom fighter my ass, an out and out terrorist with oh so many innocent lives to his account.

 

Without his ilk, many more  Northern Irish on both sides of the conflict would have been able to peacefully resolve differences (and yes there were many bad things done by both sides of the conflict in the North) but funny how people in the South have been able to get along together without killing each other over religion or politics since 1922. 

 

RIH

 

 

[CharlieH]

English is the only acceptable language on the forum. Posts will be removed if using anything else.

[thequietman]

Martin McGuinness was a freedom fighter and fought for the return of Ireland to the Irish people. It was his right as an Irish man to reclaim his country back by whatever means. His death is a sad day for Ireland and Irish people and for those of you who wish to see the death of Gerry Adams, I hope and trust he will outlast all of you.

Try reading up on Irish history to see why Martin McGuiness fought for what I know to be right.

 

Rest in Peace Martin McGuinness.  "I haven't done anything I am ashamed of."

[jesimps]

Shame he never took his mate Gerry Adams with him. I notice the lefties on here posting their condolences, wouldn't expect anything else from them.

[Inepto Cracy]

R I P Martin McGuiness.

[thequietman]

18 minutes ago, MiKT said:

Lets hope St Peter doesn't mind the bastard wondering around with a loaded tommy gun if he promises he really, really, but really! does not intend to use it.

 

Freedom fighter my ass, an out and out terrorist with oh so many innocent lives to his account.

 

Without his ilk, many more  Northern Irish on both sides of the conflict would have been able to peacefully resolve differences (and yes there were many bad things done by both sides of the conflict in the North) but funny how people in the South have been able to get along together without killing each other over religion or politics since 1922. 

 

RIH

 

 

Some quotations about the man :

 

"First and foremost, Martin McGuinness was a much loved husband, father and grandfather. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and the family circle at this very painful time of grief and loss." (Arlene Foster)

 

" Martin McGuinness ultimately played a defining role in leading the republican movement away from violence.In doing so, he made an essential and historic contribution to the extraordinary journey of Northern Ireland from conflict to peace ". (Theresa May UK PM)

 

"Mr McGuinness' personal journey and the clear influence he had on others in the republican movement were instrumental in shaping political institutions in Northern Ireland founded on exclusively peaceful and democratic means". (James Brokenshire)

 

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Enda Kenny said his passing represented a "significant loss, not only to politics in Northern Ireland, but to the wider political landscape on this island and beyond".

 

Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son, Tim, died in an IRA bomb in Warrington in 1993, said although he did not forgive the IRA or Martin McGuinness, he found him a man who was "sincere in his desire for peace".

 

Rest in Peace Martin.

 

.

[Basil B]

I am not a Catholic, I do not even believe in the religion to which I was baptised (without my consent), during the sectarian troubles many people lost their lives, many of them innocent people just in the wrong place at the wrong time, I always felt the terrorists (of both sides of the conflict)should go to prison for the rest of their miserable lives.

 

The peace accord has ensured that there are many innocent people alive today that would not without the peace accord and if it means there are some at liberty who should be rotting in hell, so be it.

 

I hope people do not, (for a better choice of words) "dance on his grave", just let him "Rest In Peace", If there is a God then he has a lot of explaining before being sent to a place where he will meet up with his good friend Ian. 

[transam]

12 minutes ago, thequietman said:

Martin McGuinness was a freedom fighter and fought for the return of Ireland to the Irish people. It was his right as an Irish man to reclaim his country back by whatever means. His death is a sad day for Ireland and Irish people and for those of you who wish to see the death of Gerry Adams, I hope and trust he will outlast all of you.

Try reading up on Irish history to see why Martin McGuiness fought for what I know to be right.

 

Rest in Peace Martin McGuinness.  "I haven't done anything I am ashamed of."

Didn't blow up the innocent....?

[Phuket Man]

Him and his mate Adams. Terrorists pure and simple.

Hopefully they will meet up soon downstairs.

[thequietman]

3 minutes ago, transam said:

Didn't blow up the innocent....?

Didn't invade another country ?

Didn't try to wipe out the entire Irish population ?

 

 "The truth is startling, 67 out of 130 regiments of Britain's Empire army were in Ireland in this period (100,000 at any one time). The troops were not on a humanitarian mission. Their job was to remove food by force." - See more at: https://www.henrymakow.com/2015/06/irish-potato-famine-was.html#sthash.0NU0OZuO.dpuf