MLAs remember Martin McGuinness in Assembly

  • UTV
Politicians have been giving their reaction to Martin McGuinness's death. Credit: Press Eye

MLAs have been paying tribute to former deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at Stormont.

The Assembly was recalled for a special sitting on Wednesday, after the Sinn Féin politician died on Tuesday at the age of 66.

Sinn Féin’s northern leader Michelle O’Neill described Mr McGuinness as a “political visionary”, while DUP leader Arlene Foster said his legacy is “complex and challenging”.

Ms O'Neill said: "His leadership and the example he set will continue to inspire those of us who are determined to build a better future for all the generations to come."

Ms Foster said: "It is precisely because of his past, because of his involvement with the IRA in the 70s and 80s, because of his influence within those circles that he was able to play the role he played in bringing the republican movement towards using peaceful and democratic means and because of all of that I doubt we will ever see his like again."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "We have the opportunity to do what Martin McGuinness would have wanted us to do.

"Go down to Stormont Castle and finish the job."

And the outgoing UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said: "If unionism has anything to learn from Martin McGuinness it is the importance of outreach.

"He reached outside his comfort zone on many occasions but unionism didn't always reciprocate."

Following the sitting, MLAs had the opportunity to sign a book of condolence at Stormont, one of several opened since Mr McGuinness's death, including in Belfast City Hall, in Dublin and his home city of Londonderry.

At the Belfast signing, DUP Lord Mayor Brian Kingston said Martin McGuinness will be associated with "appalling suffering", but also "with peaceful and democratic processes".

Meanwhile in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Theresa May expressed her condolences to Martin McGuinness.

"Of course, we do not condone or justify the path he took in the earlier part of his life, and we should never forget that, nor the victims of terrorism," she said, during Prime Minister's Questions.

"However, as my noble friend Lord Trimble set out yesterday, he played an indispensable role in bringing the Republican movement away from violence to peaceful and democratic means and to building a better Northern Ireland."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Martin played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, and it's that peace we all want to endure."