Martin McGuinness at Tuesday night’s State Banquet.
A former British Government Minister has been accused of “advocating the assassination” of Martin McGuinness after stating he hoped the North’s Deputy First Minister would be shot in the back by dissident republicans.
Norman Tebbit, who survived an IRA bomb attack 30 years ago, made the remarks following the Sinn Fein MLA’s attendance at the State Banquet in Windsor Castle hosted by Queen Elizabeth in honour of President Michael Higgins historic visit to England.
Mr Tebbit said: “There’s always the possibility that a member of the Real IRA will be so outraged by Mr McGuinness bowing to the Queen that they might shoot him in the back for it. We can but hope.”
Mr McGuinness said he was surprised at the remarks which he said raised “very serious questions” for Mr Tebbit, who was seriously injured and his wife Margaret paralysed when the IRA bombed the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the 1984 Conservative Party conference.
Norman Tebbit and his wife Margaret.
“I absolutely sympathise with him and understand the trauma that he and his family have been through as a result of how the conflict affected them,” Mr McGuinness told the BBC’s Evening Extra programme.
“But I do have to say, I think many people will find it absolutely dismaying that someone who has lectured Irish republicans down the years is now effectively resorted to encouraging elements who are hostile to the peace process to take my life.”
Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams criticised Mr Tebbit’s comments.
He said: “I fully understand that Norman Tebbit has himself been a victim of the political conflict and I regret that he has suffered grievously.
“However, to publicly advocate the assassination of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness is a shocking throwback to a violent past from which we are seeking to move on.”
Norman Tebbit being taken from the rubble of the Grand Hotel following the 1984 bomb attack.
Mr Adams said his party colleague had taken considerable personal risks to ensure the success of the peace process.
He added: “Martin, his home and indeed his family have been targets for abuse and attack by so-called dissident republicans.
“To now have this type of activity encouraged by a member of the British House of Lords is unacceptable, and should be rejected by all right thinking people.”
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