Let this spur parties We must remember Any real chance of on to get act together all aspects of past justice is now gone

THE son of one of the Disappeared said he hoped Martin McGuinness’s death would give politicians at Stormont a much-needed kick to fix the current stalemate.

Jean McConville (below) was abducted, murdered and buried by the IRA in 1972.

Her son Michael does not believe the former Deputy First Minister had any involvement in the case of his mother’s disappearance and killing, but he feels he — and other politicians — never did enough for victims of the Troubles.

“I don’t feel any anger towards Martin McGuinness,” said Mr McConville, who was one of 10 children left behind when his widowed mother was taken away by the Provisional IRA.

“I don’t think he had any dealings with my mother’s case so I have nothing to say about forgiveness. I have nothing to forgive him for.

“But what did come to my mind when I heard he died were the other families, like the woman who asked him if her son could come home. When he said yes, her son came back, only to be shot.

“Yes, maybe he didn’t have as much influence as people thought. But, personally, I think he did.

“I’m not saying McGuinness knew exactly who did what, but Sinn Fein as a party must have the ability to get that information.

“He could have done more, as could the whole party.

“In saying that, though, I don’t think any of the parties have done enough. They they care, but why is it then that so many people are left without the answers?” With the Executive in meltdown and just a matter of days left until the deadline for negotiations runs out, Mr McConville said he hoped the news could spur politicians into action.

“All of this has been difficult to deal with,” he added. “It’s hard to see so many people painting pretty pictures of his life — but I don’t like to see anybody dying.

“He did some good things for the peace process, and I was glad to see that.

“Now his death might give them a kick up at Stormont to get back together.

“They need to address the past properly. It seems to be that once again the victims are forgotten.

“McGuinness didn’t do enough for us, so it’s up to the rest of them to do better.”

THE son of an Irish prison officer murdered by the IRA has urged people to remember Martin McGuinness’s past alongside his peacemaking.

Austin Stack, who has fought a public campaign to find the Provo gunmen who shot his father Brian Stack in 1983, said he felt reflections about the Sinn Fein negotiator’s life were being skewed by his influence on the peace process.

He said: “People should remember the totality of his legacy. I think there are two very different legacies in relation to Martin McGuinness, let’s not just focus on the latter part.

“Martin McGuinness never reconciled with victims. He recsay onciled with unionism but not with victims.”

Mr Stack added: “Martin McGuinness had questions to answer in relation to the Claudy bomb, and there were also questions over the Enniskillen bomb.”

POPPY Day survivor Stephen Gault, whose father was killed in the 1987 blast, said he could not forgive Martin McGuinness for his IRA past because he had never shown any remorse.

Mr Gault said it was difficult to watch dignitaries across the UK and Ireland praise him for his peace work.

“Martin McGuinness didn’t publicly seem to be sorry for his part in terrorism,” said Mr Gault. “Maybe he did feel it in the lead-up to his passing or even on his death bed, I live in hope. But I can’t help but feel that any chance of justice is gone now he’s dead.

“It’s been upsetting to see him hailed as a great peacemaker, with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and different officials talking about all the great things he did.

“To me, he was no different from the man he was during the IRA terrorist campaign because he never sought forgiveness.

“He wasn’t sorry, and he did nothing to help the victims get justice for what they went through. I didn’t see him as a peacemaker, and certainly not as a statesman. He didn’t show any repentance — in fact he justified the violence of the past.

“To see him held up in such high esteem has made me sick to the pit of my stomach. I was in the same room as him about two years ago with the victims forum when he eulogised about his days in the IRA.

“It was extremely hurtful and saying that in front of a room full of victims was a very strange choice.”

Mr Gault was just 18 when he was caught up and dreadfully injured in the Enniskillen bomb that killed his retired RUC-man father Samuel (left). Mr McGuinness was once accused in a TV documentary of knowing in advance about the bombing.

And Mr Gault said he hopes some information might come to light following the former Deputy First Minister’s death.

“It could be that some information was held back while he was alive,” added Mr Gault.

“It could have been part of the Good Friday Agreement — protect Mr McGuinness for the sake of the peace process.

“I don’t know, but that’s a possibility. And unless he disclosed information in the time before his death, that is my main hope for getting to the truth.”