Queues forming at Stormont to sign book of condolence at Stormont for Martin McGuinness
THE Assembly has been remembering Martin McGuinness, the former deputy first minister who died in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Martin McGuinness was the product of a “discriminatory state, of the decades-long denial of civil rights to Catholics”, according to People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll.
A book of condolence was also opened at the Assembly.
The first to sign was Assembly Speaker Robin Newton.
Former First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster also signed the book.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll told the Assembly that Mr McGuinness was the product of a “discriminatory state, of the decades-long denial of civil rights to Catholics”.
“No-one, therefore, can seriously criticise Martin McGuinness and the choices he made without an understanding of the way the powerful forces created the environment in which he and thousands of other people grew up in.”
He added that Mr McGuinness “did not choose the circumstances in which he made history”.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, who like Martin McGuinness is a Derry man, said the former first minister believes the city was a “crucible of the peace process”.
He acknowledged that Mr McGuinness’s “journey” began in violence but ended “grounded in the principles of peace and partnership”.
The Foyle MLA urged his fellow politicians that their job now is “do what what Martin McGuinness would’ve wanted us to do” in breaking the deadlock and agreeing a way for forward for the Executive.
Martin McGuinness’s successor as Sinn Féin’s leader at Stormont said he was a “political visionary”.
Michelle O’Neill says he urged people to “choose hope over fear”, and that “should be the clarion call” in the crucial weeks that are facing politicians in Northern Ireland as they attempt to restore a power-sharing executive.
“I rededicate our party to completing his life’s work,” Mrs O’Neill concluded.
Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said she did not believe there would be peace in Northern Ireland if it had not been for people like Martin McGuinness.
She said MLAs needed to “pay our debt of gratitude to all of those who have brought us this far”.
Independent MLA Claire Sugden said she was a child of the Good Friday Agreement and that Martin McGuinness “was part of that journey to peace”.
She said that, as a unionist, she was brought up to regard him in a certain way, but when she was appointed justice minister last year “he was very kind and generous and supportive to me”.
