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20/09/2011
'Examine Us All', Says McGuiness
Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuiness has called on critics of his past to "examine everyone's past".
The long-time republican activist and self-confessed IRA man, Mr McGuiness is now to step down from his duties in Stormont to allow him to run for the Republic of Ireland's Presidential election.
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuiness has insisted that voters should not focus on his IRA past in the Irish presidential contest and will instead judge him on his record as a peacemaker.
Facing fresh questions over his time as a paramilitary commander, Mr McGuinness said he had never hidden his involvement in the IRA.
"The reality is that people know my past," he said. "I have put myself before the electorate on countless occasions since 1982 and particularly since 1997 when I was first elected as MP for Mid Ulster.
"If people want to examine the past, then let's examine the past of everybody," he said.
"I work for what's happening now, what's happening in the future, building better relationships with unionists and moving forward to continue to steward one of the most successful peace processes in the world today."
Mr McGuiness is to temporarily hand over his position to the party's Education Minister John O'Dowd.
(LB/BMcC)
The long-time republican activist and self-confessed IRA man, Mr McGuiness is now to step down from his duties in Stormont to allow him to run for the Republic of Ireland's Presidential election.
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuiness has insisted that voters should not focus on his IRA past in the Irish presidential contest and will instead judge him on his record as a peacemaker.
Facing fresh questions over his time as a paramilitary commander, Mr McGuinness said he had never hidden his involvement in the IRA.
"The reality is that people know my past," he said. "I have put myself before the electorate on countless occasions since 1982 and particularly since 1997 when I was first elected as MP for Mid Ulster.
"If people want to examine the past, then let's examine the past of everybody," he said.
"I work for what's happening now, what's happening in the future, building better relationships with unionists and moving forward to continue to steward one of the most successful peace processes in the world today."
Mr McGuiness is to temporarily hand over his position to the party's Education Minister John O'Dowd.
(LB/BMcC)
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