Martin McGuinness, NI's former deputy first minister, dies age 66

Summary

Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness has died aged 66
NI's former deputy first minister died in hospital with his family by his side
Ex-IRA leader turned peacemaker worked at the heart of the power-sharing government
He became deputy first minister in 2007, working with DUP leaders Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster
Politicians and the public have been reacting to his death

Live Reporting

IRA victim says she's thinking of murdered sisterpublished at 08:36 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
After the death of Martin McGuinness, victims' campaigner Ann Travers has tweeted a photo of her sister, Mary, who was murdered in an IRA gun attack in 1984.
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The target of the ambush was their father, Tom, a resident magistrate, who was badly injured in the shooting. Ms Travers has been a vocal critic of the IRA.
Former Alliance leader says McGuinness was 'statesman'published at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
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Eastwood: McGuinness journey took him to 'true calling of politics' published at 08:33 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Colum Eastwood has released a full statement that pays tribute to a man who made a "remarkable journey".
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“History will record his political career as a journey – one born in a tradition of violence but, in a testament to Martin’s character, that arrived at his true calling in politics, people and the art of persuasion," says Mr Eastwood.
SDLP MLAs tweet condolences to McGuinness familypublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
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MLA 'devastated' by McGuinness' deathpublished at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
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Former PM Tony Blair says McGuinness showed 'leadership'published at 08:29 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Image source, AP
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Irish president says McGuinness made "immense contribution" published at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Irish President Michael D Higgins says he learned of the death of Martin McGuinness with "great sadness" and added that "people across this island will miss the leadership he gave".
Image source, European Photopress Agency
In a statement, external , Mr Higgins said: "As President of Ireland, I wish to pay tribute to his immense contribution to the advancement of peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland – a contribution which has rightly been recognised across all shades of opinion."
Theresa May: McGuinness had profound optimism for NI's future published at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Prime Minister Theresa May says that while she can "never condone the path" Martin McGuinnness took in his early life, he "ultimately played a defining role in leading the Republican movement away from violence".
"In doing so, he made an essential and historic contribution to the extraordinary journey of Northern Ireland from conflict to peace."
Image source, Reuters
She adds: "While we certainly didn't always see eye-to-eye even in later years, as deputy First Minister for nearly a decade he was one of the pioneers of implementing cross community power sharing in Northern Ireland.
"He understood both its fragility and its precious significance and played a vital part in helping to find a way through many difficult moments.
"At the heart of it all was his profound optimism for the future of Northern Ireland - and I believe we should all hold fast to that optimism today."
Hain: McGuinness' grassroots credibility was crucial to peace process published at 08:19 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Today Programme
BBC Radio 4
Former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain said Mr McGuinness had been "absolutely crucial" to the peace process.
"He had the grassroots credibility of a republican leader and former IRA commander, that could enable him, along with Gerry Adams, to take his followers, to take republicans, from the past of terror and horror into a democratic future, which is what he did."
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Peter Hain, pictured in 2007 on the day of the first sitting of the new Northern Ireland Assembly, with Martin McGuinness, Ian Paisley, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern (left to right)
"Sometimes in the history of conflicts - and, goodness me, the island of Ireland has been involved in centuries of conflict with Britain - you need leaders who can rise above their past and, at that point, Martin McGuinness certainly stood the test and proved to be an indispensable figure."
Lord Hain, a former Labour cabinet minister, also revealed that Mr McGuinness - a "hardline republican" - had an unlikely love of the England cricket team, and knew all the players during one Ashes series.
IRA bomb victim's relative says McGuinness is "huge loss" published at 08:13 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Victims' campaigner Alan McBride - whose wife was killed in an IRA bomb on Belfast's Shankill Road - says Northern Ireland "owes a debt of gratitude" to Martin McGuinness.
Mr McBride told BBC Radio Ulster that his "fingerprints are all over the Troubles but they are also all over the peace process". He added that although he did not support violence, McMcGuinness had shown "courage and leadership" during the peace process and his death will be a "huge loss".
UUP leader says it's a 'challenging day' for IRA victimspublished at 08:10 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Mike Nesbitt, who is stepping down as leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, says in a statement, external that the death of Martin McGuinness will lead to a "very challenging day for victims of the Troubles".
"I believe no-one needed to die to get Northern Ireland to where it is today," he says.
"Clearly Martin McGuinness very actively disagreed with that analysis, but I also accept that in his later years he was on a journey to create change through politics, becoming a pivotal figure at Stormont.
"It would be less than honest if I said other than that I found him a straiight-dealing politician in any engagement I had with him."
Jean McConville's son: He did try to do a lot for the Troubles published at 08:09 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Today Programme
BBC Radio 4
Media caption,
Michael McConville talks about Martin McGuinness and the IRA
Jean McConville is one of the 'Disappeared'. She was taken from her home by the IRA in December 1972.
Jean's son Michael was just 11 when she went missing. He says the hardest part was not knowing where his mother was. He talks to Today about the death of Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland's former deputy first minister.
NI secretary of state says McGuinness played 'essential role' published at 08:08 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire has sent his "sympathy and sincere condolences" to Martin McGuinness' family.
"While not forgetting the past, no-one can doubt the essential role he played in helping to secure the power-sharing arrangements and political progress in Northern Ireland."
Illness progressed more quickly than expectedpublished at 08:05 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
Mark Devenport
BBC News NI Political Editor
It appears that Martin McGuinness died around midnight in Altnagelvin Hospital with his family gathered around his bedside. We know he had been being treated for a serious illness in hospital for several weeks.
When he gave his final interviews recently he told me that he believed this was a battle that he could win. Certainly, it has progressed more quickly than both Martin McGuinness and his family would have feared and he has now passed away.
Politics 'poorer' without McGuinness says leader of NI Green Party published at 08:03 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
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Martin McGuinness 'was huge Manchester United fan'published at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
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McGuinness made 'massive transformation' - Alliancepublished at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
The leader of the Alliance Party, Naomi Long, tells BBC Radio Ulster that Martin McGuinness made a "massive transformation" from paramilitarism to politics.
However, she acknowledged that today will be a "difficult day" for IRA victims, as people are paying warm tributes to a former IRA leader.
Victim's father: I don't forgive but I believe he was sincere published at 07:50
BBC Breakfast
Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son, Tim, died after being caught up in a double-bombing in Warrington town centre in 1993, tells BBC's Breakfast: "I don't forgive Martin."
"I don't forgive the IRA, nor does my wife, nor do my children. But, setting aside forgiveness, the simple fact is I found Martin McGuinness an easy and pleasant man to talk to - a man who I believe was sincere in his desire for peace, for maintaining the peace process at all costs."
Image source, PA
Image caption,
Martin McGuinness met Colin Parry in Warrington in 2001
"And I think he deserves great credit for his most recent life rather than more than his earlier life, for which I don't think anything in his most recent life can atone.
"That said, he was still a brave man, who put himself at some risk within some elements of his own community in Northern Ireland."
Obituary: Martin McGuinnesspublished at 07:44 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
A look-back at the life of Martin McGuinness - the IRA leader who became a peace negotiator. He was a committed Irish republican who ended up shaking hands with the Queen.
Image source, AP
Together with Gerry Adams, he was the main republican architect of the move towards a political solution to Northern Ireland's problems.
Dublin councillor 'inspired' by McGuinness/Paisley partnership published at 07:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 March 2017
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