Martin McGuinness – Page 10 – Slugger O'Toole

Martin McGuinness: “I have been in contact with the PSNI at the top level to register my dissatisfaction and annoyance…”

Pete Baker on July 27, 2011, 10:36 pm

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In a post yesterday, noting the major search operation across Northern Ireland and the arrest for questioning of 5 men in connection with the murder of PSNI officer Ronan Kerr, I linked to a UTV report quoting “the Deputy First Minister”, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, MP, MLA. “We have to continue to support police in their investigations of any of those actions which taken the lives of any of our citizens – including those members of the police service.” Today, …

Bread, and circuses…

Pete Baker on July 14, 2011, 5:35 pm

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After a third night of attacks on police in nationalist areas across Northern Ireland, the NI First and deputy First Ministers have emerged to warn about some people’s “complacency about the peace process”. From the BBC report Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness met at Stormont Castle on Thursday to discuss recent rioting. Mr Robinson said “as a society we have begun to get a bit careless about how hard won the peace was”. Mr McGuinness said the riots “should shake …

Marvin Canning back in court

Pete Baker on June 9, 2011, 2:25 pm

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Marvin Canning, brother-in-law of Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, has been charged with two terrorist offences in connection with a 32 County Sovereignty Movement Easter Monday parade in Londonderry. An unrelated prosecution against Mr Canning was stayed in November last year when late disclosure of “pivotal” statements by prosecutors had “resulted in such potential prejudice as to render any trial unfair”. According to today’s BBC report, Mr Canning, who was arrested on Tuesday, is charged with arranging, managing …

“It has obviously had a neuralgic effect on Ann Travers”

Mick Fealty on June 6, 2011, 2:36 pm

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Neuralgia: severe spasmodic pain caused by damage to or malfunctioning of a nerve and often following the course of the nerve. It is well worth listening to Mark Devenport’s interview with Martin McGuinness in yesterday’s Inside Politics on Radio Ulster… Not least for his line that “one of the big failures of the peace process has been the inability to find agreement on how we deal with the past”. Quite. Although from Mr McGuinness’ choice of wording it is clear …

Devolution – the Respect Agenda

Dewi on June 1, 2011, 2:53 am

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The Devolved leaders’ statements from Scotland Alex Salmond, Carwyn Jones, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuiness set their stall for next week’s Joint Ministerial Committee meeting. There’s a bit of tension between Salmond and Jones on the next steps. To use one of those terrible business phrases it’s important to be on the same page….maybe I’m reading too much into it but unlike the FM and dFM Jones didn’t thank Salmond for his hospitality. Anyway – again from the BBC here’s …

HET to interview McGuinness over Joanne Mathers murder

Turgon on May 20, 2011, 11:07 am

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The News Letter is reporting that Martin McGuinness may be about to be interviewed by the Historical Enquiries Team regarding the 1981 murder of census worker Joanne Mathers. From the News letter: On Monday, MP Gregory Campbell referred to the fact obliquely when he raised a point of order in the assembly. Addressing assembly speaker Willie Hay, Mr Campbell (DUP) said: “If it transpires — my understanding is that it will — that the deputy first minister’s name will be …

“they’ve all sold out on the Irish people.”

Pete Baker on May 16, 2011, 3:32 pm

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A Newshound transcribed report of the alleged assault and attempted intimidation of former Sinn Féin member, Colm Lynagh, in Clones last weekend includes this snippet. Gerry Adams delivered the oration at Jim Lynagh’s funeral. At that time, Martin McGuiness was already engaged in secret meetings with MI6 agent Michael Oakley. Yet Adams told mourners at the graveside: “Anyone who does business with the British, the SDLP or the Free State establishment are fools as they’ve all sold out on the Irish people.” …

“No act of violence will advance the cause of reunification by one millimetre”

Pete Baker on April 26, 2011, 6:28 pm

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In a reported speech on Sunday Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness ducked the opportunity to tell his former comrades-in-arms that he was in the wrong too, preferring instead to stick to his new party approved script. “But we believe that we are in the countdown to a united Ireland.” [Added quote from a Mid Ulster Observer report] It’s an improvement on his stated view at the time… During Martin McGuinness’s early days as head of the IRA’s Derry Brigade in the early 1970s, he …

“I would go so far as to say that Ronan Kerr voted for Sinn Fein”

Alan Meban (Alan in Belfast) on April 12, 2011, 9:10 am

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Jude Collins in conversation with Martin McGuinness and Mary-Lou McDonald

Is it right to claim a dead man’s vote? About 120 people gathered in the Wellington Park Hotel in South Belfast to hear Martin McGuinness and Mary-Lou McDonald in conversation with Jude Collins. Part of a series of town hall events that Sinn Fein promise to hold each year. They spoke about highlights from the political careers, the lack of backstabbing in the party given that everyone earns the same wage, and how to convince “dissidents” (a term that Martin …

“We are going to proceed with the Altnagelvin extension [] and that’s the end of the matter.”

Pete Baker on March 29, 2011, 9:31 pm

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The Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers’ separately declared commitment to reverse the NI Health Minister’s decision to postpone the funding of a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin hospital is yet another populist move without regard to budgetary considerations – this time just ahead of an election. It also undermines the position of the smaller parties at the NI Executive table and the authority of the Executive itself. From the BBC report Mr Robinson said it could be overturned on the …

McGimpsey’s Health Service

Turgon on March 26, 2011, 10:59 am

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When Michael McGimpsey announced that the new radiotherapy centre in Altnagelvin would not be built for the meantime there was the predictable outcry from patients’ groups, the Western Trust etc. Martina Anderson denounced the decision as political: that much is to be expected; Anderson’s role has often seemed to be to play the republican representative for the the hardline Derry segment of Foyle’s republicans. To have the Deputy First minister, Martin McGuinness denounce the decision as sectarian was possibly somewhat …

Martin McGuinness, Liam Clarke and the Big Picture

Brian Walker on March 22, 2011, 12:30 pm

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A different aspect of Martin McGuinnness’s latest from Mick’s. (I’ve started so I”ll finish). I know from my own experience and observation of long ago that it makes you a better reporter if you have two outlets: the daily skirmishing for the local audience and the bigger field for clearing away the smoke of battle to try to explain what it all means to the wider world. How do the benefits accrue? The devil is often buried in the frustrating and repetitive …

Phony war over First Minister title begins…

Mick Fealty on March 22, 2011, 12:08 pm

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There’s an awful lot of flurrying over Martin McGuinness’ (deputy with a small ‘d’ First Minister) apparent offer to ‘consider’ sharing the office of First Minister, should he come through in first place in May’s poll. It should be noted it that is possible for Sinn Fein to achieve that, if they pick up every target they have, but it is unlikely… Anyway, here’s his interview for UTV: And here’s the companion dismissal from Arlene Foster… As Mark Devenport points …

Unionist Pacts: yet again

Turgon on March 21, 2011, 12:59 pm

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There have long been discussions and suggestions regarding the possibility of a unionist pact: the suggestion seems to be as old as the splits within unionism. Indeed although some “liberal” or “progressive” unionists deride the idea, the reality is that the suggestion has very significant popularity throughout the unionist electorate. In the past I have suggested that unionist civility rather than unionist unity would be a good idea. Now, however, there seems to be the possibility of the opposite: unionist …

Calls increase for new investigation into Joanne Mathers’ murder

Turgon on March 18, 2011, 1:13 pm

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The call by Lowry Mathers for further investigation of his wife’s murder (which I covered on Wednesday) may or may not achieve justice for them and their son. Whilst the precedents for success are not good, his comments, after 30 years of dignified silence, seem to have struck something of a chord. It is worth noting that this story came back into the public consciousness due to the work of Londonderry Sentinel journalist Eamon Sweeney whose comments are here. The …

“it’s something that certainly never happened under the stewardship of Tony Blair or Gordon Brown.”

Pete Baker on March 7, 2011, 8:14 pm

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The visit by the British Labour Party leader, Ed Miliband, to Stormont today may have come as a surprise to the press [and the NI Labour Party… – Ed], but the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers were ready with their latest whinge. Apparently the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, isn’t prepared to meet them just to listen to their special little pleading. From the breakingnews.ie report Also accusing the coalition British government of backtracking on financial commitments made during the peace …

Trench warfare, kamikaze style…

Pete Baker on February 22, 2011, 7:46 pm

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The Northern Ireland Executive’s trench warfare continued today with NI deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, issuing a statement claiming that the UUP and the SDLP “were lobbying for public money for their parties in talks with the British government in exchange for adopting an oppositional role in the Assembly.” Well, it’s a variation on his last claim, but the UUP are arguing of the need for a properly funded opposition by 2015. But the SDLP have denied Martin McGuinness’ claim, and they’ve issued a robust statement of …

“I have heard it from very good authority…”

Pete Baker on February 19, 2011, 1:03 pm

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When is calling for a properly-funded opposition not a call for a properly-funded opposition? When it’s secret negotiations over compensation for lost ministerial funds… At least, that’s the line the Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, has been busily spinning to anyone who will listen. And it comes “from very good authority”… “within the NIO”. [Ah, “the securocrats” – Ed] They’re on ‘our’ side this time! [They always were… – Ed] Indeed. Pete Baker

“Gerry Adams has given his answer and that’s the end of it as far as I’m concerned.”

Pete Baker on February 16, 2011, 10:41 pm

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The Northern Ireland deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, has been in Dublin, wearing one of his other hats ahead of the Irish general election. And he’s been getting outraged on behalf of the still Crown Steward and Bailiff of Northstead, his party’s president, Gerard Adams, at questions over his credibility. Oh, and on behalf of “people in the North”. From the iol report. Mr McGuinness said: “Gerry Adams has given his answer and that’s the end of it as far as …

“This position could prove a political liability…”

Pete Baker on February 14, 2011, 5:33 pm

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Via Newshound. In the Sunday Times Liam Clarke picked up on the reaction by the Sinn Féin president, and still Crown Steward and Bailiff of Northstead, Gerard Adams to the recent reports of a possible visit to Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II later this year. Here’s the An Phoblacht report of that reaction I don’t think the queen should come. There are hugely unresolved matters in terms of the British still claiming jurisdiction even though in terms of the Good Friday …