Martin McGuinness
Martin McGuiness (May 23, 1950 – 21 March 2017) was the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland. He was a member of the Sinn Féin party and a former chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army.[1] McGuiness was the United Kingdom MP and member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA), both for the mid-Ulster constituency. McGuinness abstained from attendance at the House of Commons, per Sinn Féin policy. He previously served as Minister for Education in Northern Ireland from 1999-2002. He died of heart disease on 21 March 2017.[2]
Contents
IRA activities
McGuiness was born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, and joined the IRA in 1970. He quickly rose in the ranks, and participated in the 1972 negotiations between the IRA and the British government. McGuinness was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for IRA membership by the Republic of Ireland Special Criminal Court in January 1973.[3] Following his release, he became more involved in political activity, negotiating directly and indirectly with the British in the 1980s and 1990s.[4] Journalists[5] and politicians[6] have stated that McGuinness continued to play a leading role in the IRA's terrorist activity during this time.
Sinn Féin
McGuinness was first elected MP for mid-Ulster in 1997. He was Sinn Féin's lead negotiator in the talks for the Good Friday Agreement.
Funeral
The funeral was attended by many dignitaries, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton.[7]
References
- ↑ The Guardian
- ↑ The Guardian
- ↑ English, Richard (2003). Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA'. Oxford University Press, p.162.
- ↑ Sinn Féin statement
- ↑ Taylor, Peter. Age of Terror, BBC, April 21, 2008
- ↑ Adams and McGuinness named as IRA leaders, Daily Telegraph, February 21, 2005
- ↑ Belfast Telegraph
