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Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Hundreds of mourners gather at candlelit vigil to pay tribute to Northern Ireland's former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness


Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Northern Ireland tonight to pay tribute to former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness at a vigil following his death from a rare genetic condition.



Huge crowds of all ages came together at the barracks in Andersontown, west Belfast, carrying candles and black flags as they sang the republican ballad 'I wish I was back home in Derry'.

Addressing the vigil, priest Gary Donegan hailed Mr McGuinness's contribution to the peace process, and said: 'Martin was a hero in life and a hero in death.' 

They gathered in front of a old political poster for Sinn Fein featuring an image of McGuinness, with many in the crowd using their mobile phones to capture the solemn occasion forever.

It came after McGuinness' Irish flag-covered coffin was carried through the streets of Londonderry today with Gerry Adams and his widow Bernie acting as pallbearers.
McGuinness, nicknamed the 'Butcher of Bogside' because of his years as a ruthless republican commander, was brought to 'Free Derry Corner' in his home city followed by hundreds of mourners.

But families of those killed in IRA terror attacks said today they fear the truth about their murders will be 'buried with him' because dozens known as 'The Disappeared' were abducted, executed and then dumped in unmarked shallow graves across Ireland during The Troubles, possibly at his behest. 

His wife Bernie McGuinness and their four children Grainne, Fionnuala, Fiachra and Emmet all helped carry the IRA kingpin's coffin with the help of Adams and new Sinn Fein Leader Michelle O'Neill. 

It came as the Queen sent her condolences to the widow as families killed in the republican group's terror attacks said he should be remembered as a 'vile terrorist' not a peacemaker.


Widow Bernie McGuinness (front right) and their four children Grainne, Fionnuala, Fiachra and Emmet all helped carry the former IRA kingpin's coffin to his home in Bogside




The coffin of Northern Ireland's former deputy first minister is carried to his home in Londonderry past 'Free Derry Corner'







Pallbearers including Gerry Adams (back), former hunger striker and IRA volunteer Raymond McCartney (centre) and new Sinn Fein Leader Michelle O'Neill (front) carry McGuinness' Irish-flag covered coffin through the streets of Londonderry 


Sinn Fein leader Ms O'Neill, centre, president Mr Adams, right, and former IRA member and current Northern Irish Assembly member Raymond 
McCartney, left, paid tribute to McGuinness at a press conference



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