I lost friends for going to McGuinness funeral

Foster tells of fallout from attending service for former IRA commander

SACRIFICES Arlene Foster at service in March 2017

ARLENE Foster has said she lost friends over her decision to attend the funeral of Martin McGuinness.

The First Minister spoke about the fallout from her attendance at the 2017 service for the former IRA commanderturned-Stormont leader as she appeared on RTE’s flagship Late Late Show.

She told host Ryan Tubridy: “I think it was absolutely the right thing to do and there are a lot of innocent victims who felt very strongly about it at the time and I totally understand that as well.

“I lost friends over going to the funeral but I still believe it was the right thing to do.”

Mrs Foster’s first appearance on the show has been widely interpreted as a conciliatory gesture to the Republic after years of strained relations over Brexit.

In a wide-ranging interview, the Co Fermanagh politician spoke about her childhood experiences of violence when the IRA attempted to murder her father and then blew up a school bus she was travelling on.

The only time in the 23-minute interview when there was any sign of a negative reaction from the studio audience was when she outlined her opposition to same-sex marriage.

She spoke about her relationship with ex-Sinn Fein chief Mr McGuinness, whom she served with at the head of the Stormont Executive before the institutions imploded in January 2017.

He died two months later from a rare heart condition.

She said it was “very difficult” to deal with the fact he had given an oration at the funeral of IRA member Seamus McElwaine, the man suspected of involvement in the gun attack on her father.

But she insisted it did not colour their relationship.

Mrs Foster added: “I got on quite well with Martin – you may say that is very strange given his background and given my background, but I think we have to make choices and, to me, reconciliation actually starts with the individual.”

And Mrs Foster said it was right not to be triumphalist about Brexit.

She added: “I am pleased the UK has respected the vote that was taken right across the nation but I can understand there are many people who will not be celebrating tonight.”

AT WORK McGuinness and Foster