There's a time for war and a time for peace.
Mr. McGuinness served has never expressed shame or embarrassment .... nor should he. The war is over! He has for the past decade and a half been an integral part of the peace process and now stands as an elected representative for all of the people of northern Ireland. If more hardliners in the north followed his, and Gerry Adams' example, the peace process would be much further along.

Posted by UpThePeace | 10.09.09, 23:32 GMT

In conclusion Frank. There will more than likely be no progress made until all parties of the conflict admit up to their responsibilities and admit their roles in the conflict, the Orange Order included. I hope that they can step up and admit that they, like SF and others are by no means whiter than white and blamless.

Posted by Concerned | 20.08.09, 09:33 GMT

Well Frank the OO were willing to meet on numerous occasions for differing reasons loyalist paramilitaries who held guns & still hold guns, and their meeting werent always for the good of the state & all its people.That 'Christian' organisation doesnt really mind using those groups to further its aims.If Adams & Co have to apologise for their part in the conflict, shouldnt the OO also apologise for its more than significant contribution to the atrocities against 1 section of the population since the formation of the state, and before for that matter? Somehow I dont see that apology coming! The OO was contributing to the 'Troubles' of ordinary Catholics decades before 'The Troubles' came into being. Where is their admissions of guilt?

Posted by Concerned | 20.08.09, 09:28 GMT

But Mr McGuinness also said he “could not fathom” why leaders of the Orange Order are not willing to meet with the Sinn Fein leadership.

Well perhaps this is indicative as to the nature of the beast?

Posted by Frank | 19.08.09, 20:28 GMT

Ammunition for Jim Allister. I think his threat to the Assembly is being downgraded. However if at the next Assembly elections he were to win 10 seats, the DUP would have less seats than SF. St Andrews kicks in and SF would then be entitled to the First Minister Job. Would the Unionists vote for McGuinness as First Minister? Down crashes the Assembly again.

Posted by Michael Riley | 19.08.09, 20:13 GMT

let's move on, we've enough trouble in the present to worry about!

Posted by napper | 19.08.09, 19:18 GMT

The gun in question from the early 70,s is inconsequential today and the guns I would be very nervous about are those currently held by the UDA. I thought that they(UDA) had until the end of August to decommission.
What sanctions, if any, will Mr.Woodward apply ?

Where is the severe breast beating by UUP/DUP members about this lack of action by the UDA. they continually bleated about Provo arms, and rightly so, but their silence is now deafening when it comes to the UDA.
Cat got your tongues?

Posted by HC | 19.08.09, 19:02 GMT

"I'm not bothered" equates to i do not care, no remorse at all and if one has no remorse or isn't sorry for ones wrongful actions then one cannot be forgiven.

Posted by Sean | 19.08.09, 16:47 GMT

Sorry Tony, but Martin is holding a gun "just like most of the politicians HAVEN`T during this period of time". To suggest otherwise is somewhat mischievous at best and could be seen as yet another attempt to re-write history.If they had all behaved like Martin had in the past, the we would have all been in a far worse mess than we actually did.

It is due to the fact that the vast majority of politicians in this country didn`t take up arms like Martin did, that we have the relative peace that we have today.

I am very glad that Martin McGuinness no longer backs the use of force in pursuit of a United Ireland.

Posted by Cliff | 19.08.09, 16:33 GMT

The media need to catch a grip and stop bring the past up, be a bit better at your jobs and find new stories instead bring all the hurt of the past into the new future we have in this country.

Posted by Martin | 19.08.09, 15:35 GMT

why has it to be sein fein why not sdlp a party republican yes but with no blood on there hands, its ok saying the past is the past, you might just as well said that over thirty years ago, and dont forget the one judgement you cant escape is still in front of you.

Posted by william | 19.08.09, 14:31 GMT

When the this photo was taken there were still many members of the Dáil who as I.R.A. volunteer, had often carried arms ½ century earlier as they fought against the British Army and the R.I.C. in a conflict that is still officially known in the Southern Irish state as the "War of Independence".

Posted by Seán Mac Curtáin | 19.08.09, 12:34 GMT

Yet, another photo of one of our so called elected assembly members holding a gun. Just like the photo of Peter Robinson holding an AK47 (see In Pictures: The Troubles (Picture No: 184) on this very site)

Surely, its time to move on, and stop finding fault by uncovering every little photo or piece of paper. This will not undue the hurt or lost of life during the 37 years.

My children have grown up in a land that I love, but still with its faults however, 100% better than when I was born 1971 – I have spent the majority of my life during the troubles. Yes, he’s holding a gun just like most of the politicians have during this period of time.

Posted by tony | 19.08.09, 12:18 GMT