Party leaders to sign book of condolence as Assembly is recalled
IWISH to express my personal sympathy to the McGuinness family. His wife, children, grandchildren and wider family. I know a little about personal loss of someone loved and that pain never really heals and the void never fills.
Martin McGuinness was the godfather of the Provisional IRA.
He was a ruthless leader, the man who not only spoke about the “cutting edge of the IRA” but the man who used that cutting edge.
Accounts differ, but he is recorded as being personally responsible for the deaths of dozens of people.
Growing up in the Northern Ireland of the 1970s and 1980s, he was a man who struck hatred and fear into the hearts of people and so he had the calibre and the clout to speak for and lead the IRA.
The vast majority of people, Catholic and Protestant, repudiated his actions and the victims of terror will never ever forget what has happened.
Unlike other leading republicans, he never pretended he wasn’t in the IRA. But then his war was over. His journey took a new direction.
No one really knows why. Perhaps he ultimately knew his organisation could never win the conflict and he had to make peace.
He moved from the godfather to the man in government.
The necessary man who could bring the republican movement over a rubicon. One that they could never go back on and one that cemented British rule in Northern Ireland. That journey saw him accepting the handshake of the Queen and he called out dissident republicans as “traitors to the cause”. And he was a man who accepted the legitimacy of the police.
A complex journey, a complex life. As a Christian man, I must take a view that every soul matters to our maker and we have a duty to witness God’s love to all. That is not a message to forget but a message more about how to go forward in life’s journey — and that journey for Martin McGuinness was one that changed considerably.
How a person’s life ends is more important than how it begins. And his journey ended in a far better place, possibly to the point where history may be kinder to him than anyone could have expected.
My father and Martin McGuinness ultimately had a remarkable journey together and one that cemented in place a foundation for a settled and peaceful Northern Ireland. Let’s hope we can now build on that foundation. Let’s see if we can make the next generation stay on that onward journey to a new and better place as a community. THE Northern Ireland Assembly is being recalled today as a mark of respect to Martin McGuinness.
A book of condolence for the former Deputy First Minister, who passed away in the early hours of yesterday morning, is to be opened in the great hall.
MLAs will unite in tribute to Mr McGuinness, who served for most of the last decade.
It was made clear last night that the 90-minute session, announced by Speaker Robin Newton, will not amount to a “proper” sitting of the Assembly.
Afterwards party leaders will be the first to sign the book of condolence.
Meanwhile, negotiations to restore devolution continued at Stormont yesterday despite the passing of Mr McGuinness.
Several sources said meetings are likely to continue over the coming days — with the Assembly due to meet again on Monday to attempt to elect a First Minister and Deputy First Minister.
Secretary of State James Brokenshire said he remained “cautiously optimistic”.
“Martin was very clear in his support for the political institutions. I think that is something we should firmly bear in mind in the days ahead,” he said.
“The talks are continuing and there have been discussions that have been going on today and I remain cautiously positive about what can be achieved, but it still requires that sense of continued urgency and continued focus on the task in hand.
“We need to continue that sense of urgency with the statutory deadline of Monday, which we are working towards. I think that this is still firmly doable, we can see a return to the Executive and the re-establishment of devolved government here in Northern Ireland,” Mr Brokenshire added.
“That’s what I’m putting all my efforts to and I know all the political parties, notwithstanding today’s news, are still very firmly engaged on that.
“We want to see politics getting on here in Northern Ireland, and that it delivers for all the people of Northern Ireland.”
It has also emerged that Mr McGuinness may now posthumously receive a major international peace award in the next few weeks. Organisers of the Tipperary International Peace Awards made clear Mr McGuinness is still in the running.
There is a precedent for the winner to be awarded posthumously, therefore not ruling Martin McGuinness out.
Meanwhile, a small group of loyalists last night appeared to celebrate Mr McGuinness’ death with a bonfire party. Fireworks were also lit in Sandy Row, and stones thrown at police vehicles.