Political leaders pay tribute to Martin McGuinness' role in peace process

By Press Association Reporters

Political leaders at Westminster and Belfast have paid tribute to Martin McGuinness's contribution to the peace process as preparations intensified for a huge funeral in his native Londonderry.

Prime Minister Theresa May told parliament she could never condone the ex-IRA commander's violent past but she credited his "indispensable" role in moving the Republican movement away from violence.

At a special session of the Stormont Assembly, Mr McGuinness's Sinn Fein successor Michelle O'Neill paid emotional tribute while Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster acknowledged that Northern Ireland would "never see his like again".

In Derry, well-wishers queued outside the McGuinness family home in his beloved Bogside neighbourhood to pay their respects ahead of Thursday's funeral.

Mrs O'Neill told the Assembly her heart was broken yet bursting with pride.

"The legacy that Martin wished was for a better future based on equality and measured by the joy and laughter of all of our children," she said.

"So on behalf of Sinn Fein I rededicate our party to completing his life's work and to living through his legacy."

Mrs Foster said Mr McGuinness's legacy was "complex and challenging".

She said his death was "hugely difficult" for victims of the IRA but said to many nationalists and republicans he was a "leader, friend or mentor".

The former first minister added: "It is precisely because of his past, because of his involvement with the IRA in the 70s and 80s because of his influence within those circles that he was able to play the role he played in bringing the republican movement towards using peaceful and democratic means and, because of all of that, I doubt we will ever see his like again."

Mrs Foster said those who claimed Northern Ireland had not changed were wrong.

"Things have fundamentally changed since I was growing up in the 70s and 80s and changed immeasurably for the better and Martin McGuinness did play a role which I will always condemn in the 70s and 80s, but I also have to acknowledge the role that he played over this last decade and more in government in Northern Ireland," she said.

Mrs Foster concluded her remarks by quoting Mr McGuinness's favourite poet, Seamus Heaney, saying: "So hope for a great sea change, on the far side of revenge.

"Believe that further shore is reachable from here."

Reflecting on Mr McGuinness's death at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Mrs May said: "Of course, we do not condone or justify the path he took in the earlier part of his life, and we should never forget that, nor the victims of terrorism.

"However, as my noble friend Lord Trimble (former Ulster Unionist First Minister at Stormont) set out yesterday, he played an indispensable role in bringing the republican movement away from violence to peaceful and democratic means and to building a better Northern Ireland."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Commons: "Martin played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, and it's that peace we all want to endure."

Mr McGuinness, 66, who died from a rare heart condition, completed an extraordinary political journey from an IRA leader in Derry to sharing power and a remarkable friendship with his erstwhile foe, DUP leader Dr Ian Paisley.

He also struck up a warm relationship with the Queen, whom he praised for her contribution to peace. She is to send a personal message to Mr McGuinness's family.

Mr McGuinness's last major act as a politician was to pull down the powersharing executive at Stormont when he resigned as deputy first minister in January in protest at the DUP's handling of a green energy scandal.

With Stormont still without a powersharing executive or new Speaker in the wake of the subsequent snap election, traditional protocols were overridden to enable MLAs to assemble to mark his death.

Afterwards they lined up to sign a book of condolences in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings.

A number of high profile guests are expected at requiem mass on Thursday. Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire will attend as the UK Government's representative.

On Tuesday night thousands of people gathered to pay tribute at a candlelit vigil in the republican heartland of west Belfast.

The sombre event happened hours after crowds in Derry accompanied the Sinn Fein veteran's coffin on his final journey home to the Bogside.

During the Assembly session, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Mr McGuinness's journey "started in violence, but ended up very much grounded in principles of peace and partnership".

He urged politicians to resolve their current differences to form a new powersharing government.

"We have the opportunity to do what Martin McGuinness would have wanted us to do. Go down to Stormont Castle (talks venue) and finish the job," he said.

Ulster Unionist Mike Nesbitt said it would be "dishonest" of him "to ignore the pain of the victims of the IRA".

But he added: "History will also reflect on Martin McGuinness as more than an IRA commander. History will be very positive about his motivation as a politician.

"If unionism has anything to learn from Martin McGuinness it is the importance of outreach. He reached outside his comfort zone on many occasions but unionism didn't always reciprocate."

Alliance leader Naomi Long paid tribute to Mr McGuinness for his "pivotal role in bringing the violent campaign to an end and moving us to the place we are in today".

She added: "I want to acknowledge there are those who suffered, who today will find this a very difficult time."

Jim Allister of the TUV said his thoughts were primarily with the victims of the IRA.

"Thus I come to note the death of Martin McGuinness, not to praise him," he added.

Books of condolences for the former deputy first minister have opened across Ireland.

At the Belfast signing, DUP councillor and Orangeman Brian Kingston said Mr McGuinness will be associated with "appalling suffering", but also "with peaceful and democratic processes".