Thousands line streets for Martin McGuinness funeral
Thousands of mourners have attended the funeral of Martin McGuinness, including former US President Bill Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.
Mr McGuinness, a former IRA commander who played a central role in the Northern Irish peace process and served as Deputy First Minister, died on Tuesday morning aged 66. He had been suffering a rare genetic condition.
The politician’s home city of Derry was brought to a standstill as thousands lined the streets to pay their
respects as Mr McGuinnness’s funeral cortege travelled from his home in the Bogside to his local church. His coffin was carried by Sinn Fein figures including party president Gerry Adams and leader in the North Michelle O’Neill. Although his coffin was draped in the Irish tricolour flag, the funeral had no Republican or IRA motifs as the family had previously agreed with the Catholic Church.
The ceremony was an inter-faith event, with a requiem mass lead by Catholic priest Fr Michael Canny and Bishop Donal McKeown. It also featured homilies from Protestant church leaders, including the Methodist and Presbyterian faiths, in a reflection of reconciliation between Catholic and Protestant communities achieved by the peace process.
Mr McGuinness’s nephew Ordhan read a passage from Ecclesiastes 3:3, which included the tribute: “a time to kill and a time to heal”, in an apparent acknowledgement of the politician’s involvement in both the violent conflict and the peace process.
After much speculation, DUP leader Arlene Foster, who served alongside Martin McGuinness as Northern Ireland First Minister, attended the service. She had previously refused to confirm if she would attend, due to Mr McGuinness’ involvement with the IRA during the conflict.
Ms Foster’s life was particularly marked by IRA violence during the Troubles. When she was eight years old, her father, a serving police officer, was shot by the IRA at the family’s Fermanagh home. When she was a teenager, the terror group also bombed her school bus.
British Prime Minister Theresa May did not attend the service. The British Government was represented by Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire. Both the current Irish PM Enda Kenny and his predecessor Bertie Ahern were in attendance.
Addressing the congregation following the mass, former President Bill Clinton paid tribute to Mr McGuinness. Mr Clinton was heavily involved in the Northern Irish peace process in the lead-up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement peace treaty in 1998.
He extended special thanks to Ms Foster for her attendance as a gesture towards the Catholic community in Northern Ireland. He praised Mr McGuinness for realising “you could have an Ireland which was free and independent and self governing, but still inclusive”. He added that the Sinn Fein politician’s success in the peace process came from “expanding the definition of ‘us’ and shrinking the definition of ‘them’”.
Mr Clinton concluded his remarks, calling on the people of Northern Ireland to fulfill Mr McGuinness’s legacy and ensure peace remained in Northern Ireland.