Martin McGuinness

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IRA Leader Turned Peacemaker Martin McGuinness Dies

Sinn Fein leader praises 'passionate republican'

(Newser) - Martin McGuinness, the Irish Republican Army commander who led his underground, paramilitary movement toward reconciliation with Britain, and was Northern Ireland's deputy first minister for a decade in a power-sharing government, died Tuesday, his Sinn Fein party announced. McGuinness, 66, suffered from amyloidosis, a rare disease with a strain...

Queen, Ex-IRA Chief Shake Hands

Queen Elizabeth, Martin McGuinness meet in Northern Ireland

(Newser) - A hugely symbolic moment of reconciliation occurred across the pond today, as Queen Elizabeth II shook hands with a former Irish Republican Army commander. The New York Times describes it as "one of the most anticipated gestures in recent Irish history," and the Times and the Telegraph prop...

Irish Wrestle With Would-Be Prez's IRA Past

Martin McGuinness was Irish Republican Army commander

(Newser) - Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness has announced his candidacy for president of Ireland ; now come the inevitable questions over his former role in the IRA. Reporters this weekend asked about his stance on issues like the IRA murder of an Irish police officer in 1996; officials are also calling on...

Ex-IRA Commander May Be Ireland's Next President

Martin McGuinness will be candidate of Sinn Fein

(Newser) - An Irish milestone of sorts: Sinn Fein is expected to nominate Martin McGuinness, a former high-ranking member of the IRA, to run for president of Ireland in next month's election. It's notable, explains the Irish Times , because he has a "fair chance of actually winning the election....

Northern Ireland Launches Historic Power Share

Power-sharing government ends decades of sectarian violence

(Newser) - Protestant and Catholic leaders pledged to cooperate as Northern Ireland inaugurated a power-sharing government today, ending a deadly decades-long conflict. Protestant leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness will serve as first minister and deputy first minister, respectively. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams hailed "a new era of...

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