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Dissident plot to kill Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness

Friday, 24 April 2009

Dissident republican groups are plotting to kill Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, he revealed today.

Sinn Fein said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) told Mr McGuinness that a threat to his life had been made by dissident republicans, who murdered two soldiers and a police officer last month.

In the aftermath of the murders, Mr McGuinness branded the killers traitors to Ireland and today he said the threat against his own life would not deter him from his efforts to build the peace process.

"Over the past 24 hours I have been contacted by the PSNI and told of the existence of a threat to my life. It is believed this threat comes from a so-called dissident grouping," Mr McGuinness said.

"I have spent my entire adult life engaged in the republican struggle to bring about Irish unity and independence.

"Throughout that time there have been numerous attempts made to silence me and stop me going about my republican work.

"These have come from a variety of British state agencies and their surrogates in the loyalist gangs.

"It now seems that some of these small groups have now taken their place in that company."

He added: "One thing is for certain: neither I nor Sinn Fein has allowed these sorts of threats to stop us representing our community and driving forward the republican agenda in the past and we will not allow it to deflect us from our work in the future.

"The task of building the peace process and advancing republican and democratic goals is far too important for us to let that happen."

Sappers Patrick Azimkar, from London, and Mark Quinsey, from Birmingham, were shot dead by the Real IRA outside the Massereene Army base in Antrim, on March 7.

Two days later the Continuity IRA claimed responsibility for the murder of PSNI officer Stephen Carroll in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

One man has been charged over the soldiers' murders and three have been charged in connection with Pc Carroll's murder.

In the wake of the killings the main political parties in Northern Ireland united in opposition to the violence.

First Minister Peter Robinson and Mr McGuinness led pledges that the political process would not be derailed by dissident groups who have declared their opposition to the peace process.

Earlier this week Sinn Fein leaders began a series of public meetings to outline the party's strategy to deliver a united Ireland through the political process.

The party's president Gerry Adams and Mr McGuinness used a meeting in the republican heartland of Galbally, Co Tyrone, on Wednesday to launch a strongly worded attack on dissidents.

Mr Adams said republicans should focus on policy and actions that would help deliver a united Ireland.

In a message to dissidents, he added: "Militarism, elitism or adventurism is no substitute to strategy, for tactics, for common sense."

He said some dissidents were wedded to the use of violence as a tactic while others were motivated by ego and opportunism, but he said all were wrong.

"Some take exception to remarks by republican leaders and seize on these in an entirely self-serving and negative way," he said.

"Others threaten to kill us, or they actually attack our homes or offices."

He added: "Let me make it clear that Sinn Fein is not going to roll over and surrender our struggle to any of these elements."

The Sinn Fein leaders were given a standing ovation by the crowd of more than 200 people and the party now plans to address the public at a series of other venues.

Earlier this month dissident republicans used an event commemorating the 1916 Easter Rising to make a veiled threat against Mr McGuinness, but confirmation today of the official warning from police represents a ramping-up of tension.

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26 Comments

PP

Consise if verbose? Thats a bit of an oxymoron like military inteligence or sweet and sour

Genocide hasn't been practiced in Ireland since the great famine or Cromwell, you can spin it how you like but the troubles were never genocide or anything like genocide or ethnic cleansing or any of the other verbose claims unionists scream about

Posted by Sean | 25.04.09, 10:36 GMT

Most of these death threats like the one to Mr.McGuiness would disappear if the British and Irish governments would come out with a real time frame for the uniting of Ireland. One acceptable to all parties and start working towards it. After all Ireland is not national socialist Germany. That country is now united.Why not Ireland?How long must Ireland wait. If some people don,t like being Irish.Go back to the lowlands of Scotland where they came from. Reagan during his presidency was always shouting to the Russians"Mr.Gorbachev tear down that wall." Its time the border be torn down very soon If a real time frame was ann ounced say 5 or ten years it would solve many problems. Those who don't like it would have time to relocate and stop screwing up someone elses country

Posted by James Murnin, Cleveland | 24.04.09, 20:19 GMT

Liam, collusion is good, again something that has affected both sides in the history of the island, like internment, discrimination and oppression. You can add indoctrination (very different to education)to my list!

Posted by gary | 24.04.09, 16:28 GMT

While I condem the threat against McGuinness the anger in Republican areas is at boiling point. Every day we see the DUP lauding it over those who claim to represent the republican community. The unionists are laughing at us.

Posted by Robbie, Derry | 24.04.09, 15:52 GMT

You lot are brilliant. You cant even agree to be apalled that some dregs want to drag our wee country back to the stoneage. Its like some sort of one up manship, I am more appalled than you, nay, I'm more appalled than you are and may I add how appalled I am. Brilliant comedy, you couldnt make it up.

Posted by Homer | 24.04.09, 15:38 GMT

In all honesty, even though he is a 'politician' and all now, i wouldn't fancy taking wee Marty on, i'd say he could get medieval on you in no time! The dissident mugs would be safer clearing off.

Posted by MiHe | 24.04.09, 14:32 GMT

There are also observations to be made of the concise, if verbose, criticisms offered here by the Unionists, and the increasingly shrill and desperate "yous lot are stupid and Sinn Fein are great so they are, so there" line of argument coming from their detractors. Again, is it odd that people who sneer about indoctrination* should behave like so many moribund Sinn Fein automatons ?

(can we have a prize for the most ridiculous verbiage ? A wee button for Mickey's sash, for to wind up mark, perhaps ?)

*and apparently enjoy, as Gary has it, the insinuated 'de-humanisation', (which sounds like something Gerry Adams would say), this entails.

Posted by the primary patrick | 24.04.09, 14:10 GMT

Liam, "internment, discrimination, oppression"? Please state carefully how such words are relevant today and how they help aid in uniting the people of Northern Ireland.

Posted by mickey | 24.04.09, 13:58 GMT

Mickey wrote:
A United Northern Ireland will propser.

Do you mean that a United Northern Ireland needs a prop?
Or A United Northern Ireland will just be a prop?

Maybe the long rant was too much for you and you really meant:
A United Ireland will prosper?!

I think we should know....

Posted by robin | 24.04.09, 13:57 GMT

Gary - The big words I mentioned seem to apply only to my community whereas the words you mention seemed to occur on both sides, which is my point. Also, you can add collusion to my list!!

Posted by Liam | 24.04.09, 13:57 GMT

Liam, not sure if you claim to speak for the Republic movement but how are you with big words like propaganda, genocide, racial supremacy (perceived), hypocrisy, nihilism, intransigence, revisionism?

Posted by Gary | 24.04.09, 13:32 GMT

Liam's litany is a commentary in itself, the only material point being legislation, err, adopted on both sides of the border to control 'death squads'. Go and look at Uncle Gerard's mates in desert of Palestine if anyone want to see "Appprsssion" actually manifest, then consider the good NHS, the good free education, and, if you happen to be unemployed, the extra lovely dole checks and all the rest. The 'struggle' against the state and the neighbour was motivated by chauvinism, nothing more. And for such a synthetic rhetoric to include insinuations of indoctrination is laughable. Do you know friends ? For all the bumming and blowing 'them un's' do about being smarter than the Prods, they appear to have no appreciation at all of comic irony. Lets hope the rule of law triumphs, the total guilt of all republicans is confirmed by the due rights of the British citizen bequeathed on they themselves; who denied even the right of life to so many others.

Posted by the primary patrick | 24.04.09, 13:26 GMT

Ruari, is it possible that "the DUP are running rings around McGuinness, Adams and co." because Sinn Fein's aims and methods have been undemocratic? Is it possible that they are a nihilistic party and now that they have power, they don't know what to do with it (a la Ruane)? Is it really true that "The Republican community aren't stupid"?! Have you people learned anything from our recent history? Your racist/sectarian goals are not attainable and that's why history repeats itself - periods of extreme violence, relative peace, splinter groups formed, return to violence!! Your day will never come because the 'cause' is unjust!

Posted by Gary | 24.04.09, 13:23 GMT

'Sad to hear you've no interest in Catholic and Protestant in Northern Ireland standing up and rejecting these republican terrorists. Sad, but not wholly surprised....' posted by Mickey

Oh dear wee Mickey.... ........Some of us do not not feel the need to continually state the obvious and bore the readers of the BT with thinly disguised sectarian rhetoric. Also, some of us have been standing shoulder to shoulder with our neighbours for years (without caring what religion they may or may not be)

I hate to digress but getting back to your 'holiday' last week.....I just wanted to know how you managed to get hold of the 1.21 gigowatts of power required to send the deloreon back to your home in the dark ages? Any chance of bringing your erudite pal Gary the next time?

Posted by mark | 24.04.09, 13:22 GMT

Mickey - I don't know where you get your conclusion that the Republican movement are all over the place from but I would assume it is from somwhere like the Newsletter or the Guardian etc. The republican movement is stronger than ever and of course there are a minority who think they no better and can do a better job but they are a minority and have very little support in our community. I also have to laugh at your comment about "these people" not wanting a Catholic to stand shoulder to shoulder with a Protestant when Unionists, still some to this day i.e Jim Allister but moreso in the past, took this stance so rigidly.
If you read your history on this wee country you will learn how much and to what lengths Unionists/Loyalists went to preventing Catholics standing shoulder to shoulder with Protestants. Maybe you can get someone to help you read the big words i.e. internment, discrimination, oppression etc.

Posted by Liam | 24.04.09, 12:56 GMT

Don't know where Mickey gets his facts from, his ideas, however, he obviously learned at his daddy's knee, as he brushed off his bowler hat for the 'big day'.
Still, glad he's back and may he 'live long and propser (sic)'!!!

Posted by A Different Patrick | 24.04.09, 12:51 GMT

Ack thanks Mark. I do it for you. To give you something to live for by way of responding LOL!

Sad to hear you've no interest in Catholic and Protestant in Northern Ireland standing up and rejecting these republican terrorists. Sad, but not wholly surprised....

Posted by mickey | 24.04.09, 12:23 GMT

Spot on analysis Mickey. Watch out for the character assassination by the nationalist armchair generals now, that despise your "perfectly legitimate" politics

Posted by Gary | 24.04.09, 12:22 GMT