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Martin McGuinness refuses to speak about his IRA past in run for Irish presidency - VIDEO

Sinn Fein candidate will not apologize for his role as local commander in the IRA

CATHY HAYES,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, September 22, 2011, 4:03 PM

Updated Thursday, September 22, 2011, 4:03 PM

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Martin McGuinness refuses to speak about his IRA past in run for Irish presidency

Sinn Fein candidate for the Irish presidency, Martin McGuinness, has said that he will not answer questions during his campaign about his past as a local commander of the Provisional IRA.

Speaking during a local radio interview he said “he would not be interrogated” by the interviewer about specific IRA killings.

On Monday Ulster Unionist Party leader Tom Elliott said that McGuinness should “come clean” over his past and apologize to his victims. He said “I think it would be extremely useful if he were to sit down and talk of his overall involvement.”

"Of how he was a commander in the IRA, what those actions enabled him to do, what some of the actions were that he did take and an acceptance that their campaign was wrong."
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However others do not have any reservations about McGuinness running in the election.

In 1993 Alan McBride’s wife was killed in a bomb on the mainly Protestant Shankill Road, in Belfast. Speaking to CNN he said he has “no real reservations about McGuinness running.”

McBride said “We have been in a (peace) process for many years and I recognize the role Martin McGuinness has played in that in terms of getting us to where we are.” However he also said that he recognized how other victims “would have very mixed views.”

Speaking to the BBC McGuinness said to bring up his involvement in the IRA was an attempt on the part of the media to use the feelings of the victims against him.

He said “I think it's an attempt by the media to whip up the feelings of victims and try to use the feelings of victims."

He continued “The IRA was a participant and I was in the IRA - I don't divest my responsibility for that, I do believe that I have a responsibility given that I was a member of the IRA.

"I believe that the people of Ireland will look at my record in the round I think they will see me as a peacemaker, they will see me as someone who has tried to inspire people in the north in favor of the peace process."

He also said that he would not apologize for his involvement in the IRA and added “I am going forward as Martin McGuinness in my own right, I'm not going forward as a representative of Sinn Fein," he said.

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Brolaur | Sep 24, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT

I agree with "Trealach". The US has become one of the most uncivilised countries on earth. Death sentences. Guantanimo, bombing women and children and then saying it's just "colateral damage". They should listen to "Ike's warning about giving too much power to the Military. Like all other EMPIRES it's on it's way down. I really don't believe that most decent Americans would agree with all this stuff but they won't get a chance to vote on those issues. Bush, Chaney,Rumsfeld etc has brought that beautiful people to their knees. May I also Say that I'm profoundly disappointed in Obama. Mr. President,CLOSE GUANTANIMO. It's a FESTERING SORE in the face of the US and you PROMISED the world you would.

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imokyrok | Sep 22, 2011, 06:12 AM EDT

Is a 'true Irishman' similar to a 'true Scotsman or a 'Real American? Plenty of Irish whether they meet your definition of 'true' or not despised murder torture and maiming of other innocent Irish men women and children for thirty long years and despise the perpetrators still.

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DaithiSuibhne | Sep 21, 2011, 09:40 PM EDT

There was a time when McGuinness had the respect of many a true Irishman, sadly that time has past and now we see an empty shell of a man willing to do and say anything for a few crumbs that fall from the 'Masters' table. He has shone his true colours, apparently their silver and gold that fit well in his pockets.

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imokyrok | Sep 21, 2011, 04:13 PM EDT

Brolaor - "leave the dead bury their dead". The problem with that is that firstly the families of the dead are not dead and secondly many of them can't bury their dead because McGuinness and his pals won't tell them where they dumped their often tortured and mutilated bodies.

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cillowen | Sep 20, 2011, 04:29 PM EDT

they voted for dev who caused a civil war where brother fought and killed brother needlessly. Dev was the occupier's greatest friend who fed and was such a valuable asset to the occupier during WWII. Dev was England's Greatest Spy and had the irish natives hoodwinked as his real interest was that of securing a homeland for his tribe.

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greensod | Sep 20, 2011, 12:29 PM EDT

All the lies,all the shite raisers can do and say what ever they want.At the end of the road the Irish people will decide who the next President will be.I think they are ready for the old dog for the hard road.McGuinness is needed in this position,only his skills and record can save Ireland from the mess its in.No more dam Free Staters lying, kissing ass and selling the people down the drain.Its time for a change,its time to finish the job started in 1916 so Ireland can move forward with pride and leadership, provide jobs for the youth so they dont have to rely on hand outs in foreign countries and live under the radar as undocumented. McGuinness got the job done in the north,he will get it done in the south,he will hand the people of Ireland a nation of 32 counties.He will get this done peacefully, the war is over.The Free Staters will not like it,they have done enough damage.The Irish people will once again join the nations of the world.

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Nelsonbarry | Sep 20, 2011, 11:21 AM EDT

Why not let a man that really cares about Ireland and all it's people represent the country. How would Michael Collins vote?

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Trealach | Sep 20, 2011, 10:59 AM EDT

The problem with war, whether one agrees with the war or not is that innocent people always get killed, THAT is a FACT of war. For some strange reason American's don't give a damn so long as THEY are doing the killing. They even have the arrogance, audacity and hypocrisy to try and justify it, but when it's a war for Civil Rights and Freedom by or in another country, American's are outraged. Gay Mitchel is perfectly correct and entitled to make as many appeals as necessary for "Clemency" when a Sate is about to murder a criminal. He is also perfectly correct and entitled to stand firm on Family Values and Marriage, and oppose the onslaught by PERVERTS who want to demean what God intended. If America had a quarter of the qualities shown by Mitchell, America wouldn't be the cesspit or axis of evil that it has become.

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Tooreenagrena | Sep 20, 2011, 10:58 AM EDT

Who would Pierce and Connelly vote for?

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ciaran1433 | Sep 20, 2011, 10:26 AM EDT

Some background information about the Fine Gael nominee for Irish president Gay Mitchell: Gay Mitchell sought clemency for a convict, in his case for Army of God member and double-murderer Paul Jennings Hill, a fact that had been public knowledge for eight years. Another convict Mitchell sought clemency for was Louis Truesdale, who was convicted in 1980 of the rape and murder of 18-year-old Rebecca Ann Eudy. The victim's mother, Evelyn Eudy said that she "was appalled to hear Mr Mitchell was running as a presidential candidate in Ireland". According to newspaper reports when he was questioned about these letters on the 27th August 2011, he "became quite incensed" and revealed that he has written "a number" of clemency pleas. Mitchell defended Italian MEP Rocco Buttiglione's remarks when he referred to homosexuality as a sin. Mitchell has been questioned as to whether or not he is a member of the European Catholic group Dignitatis Humanae Institute, which he denied on the 12th August 2011 in a radio interview with Pat Kenny, however according to Benjamin Harnwell, the institute's founding chairman Mitchell helped formulate the charter that became the institute's declaration. In the same interview Mitchell was also asked whether or not he is a member of the Iona Institute (who reject the notion of same-sex marriages), which he also denied, however in September 2007, he did host a conference (The Fragmenting Family) on behalf of the Iona Institute.

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DanOLoingsigh | Sep 20, 2011, 09:32 AM EDT

One problem with a Martin McGuinness candidacy is his responsibility for filling many coffins of fellow Irishmen

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Brolaur | Sep 20, 2011, 07:42 AM EDT

Martin has my vote. He and Gerry Adams, especially have transformed politics in Northern Ireland and I believe that Martin McGuiness, as President woud put the final nail on the coffin of the past. Are the Catholics in Northern Ireland, better off today than they were in the 60's? Yes they are. Of course I abhor the atrocities that occurred on both sides in the "Troubles" but lets "leave the dead bury their dead".

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