Dissident refuses to shake hands with Martin McGuinness

Gary Donnelly (far right) refused to shake hands with Martin McGuinness

A dissident republican has refused to shake hands with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness outside a polling station in Londonderry.

The Sinn Fein politician offered to shake hands with Gary Donnelly, who is standing as a councillor in the city.

Mr Donnelly told the BBC he was happy to shake hands with other members of Sinn Fein but that he "did not trust Mr McGuinness".

Mr McGuiness said it was a matter for Mr Donnelly.

"It's his choice," Mr McGuiness said.

"Just like it is for the people he purports to represent who are afraid to come into a room and discuss the folly of their actions with people like me and Gerry Adams."

Mr Donnelly said he felt Mr McGuinness had "abandoned the republican community".

"I have been canvassing the area, particularly the Creggan, Bogside and Brandywell," he said.

"The message I am getting on the doorstep from working class people is that they feel abandoned, they feel let down by the Provisional movement."

Mr Donnelly said he could not speak for the "dissident republican campaign" and was speaking as an "independent republican".