McGuinness spoke of Queen loss

Published Sunday, 01 July 2012
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Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness told the Queen that he recognised she had suffered loss as a result of the conflict in Northern Ireland when they met in Belfast on Wednesday.

McGuinness spoke of Queen loss
The Queen shakes hands with Martin McGuinness (© PA)

Mr McGuinness revealed that he addressed the 1979 IRA murder of her cousin Lord Mountbatten when he met her privately at the Lyric Theatre.

Lord Mountbatten was killed by a bomb blast on his boat off Mullaghmore, Co Sligo.

One of his twin grandsons, Nicholas, aged 14, and a young boat boy Paul Maxwell, aged 15 also died in the explosion. Lady Brabourne, 82, died later of her injuries.

The former IRA commander said the Queen was very gracious about what he said.

Mr McGuinness said he would not detail exactly what was mentioned or how the Queen responded during the eight minute discussion in the Lyric Theatre, which the Duke of Edinburgh also attended.

The Mid Ulster MLA appeared on a RTÉ talkshow on Saturday and said that he had told the royals that he recognised they had lost a relative.

"I said to the Queen and the Duke they too had lost a loved one," he said.

The killing was discussed briefly after one of two historic handshakes between the pair on day two of the monarch's Jubilee celebrations visit to Northern Ireland.

© UTV News
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18 Comments
seamas in belfast wrote (321 days ago):
Rob. Is that the Royals or the Shinners?
Rob in Belfast wrote (322 days ago):
I was gladdened to see HM kept her gloves on ,probably incinerated by now ,HM has to deal with ungracious people all the time so carries it off very well ,Prince Philip being himself could not hide his distaste ,and more power to his elbow , it is time for people to sit back and actually think what these people did to their fellow countrymen , women and children ,and they now lord around as though they are respectful people .
Rod in :) wrote (322 days ago):
Ellie, would the good people of North America forgive Bin Laden? oh no sorry, they shot him stone dead!
Martin in Belfast wrote (322 days ago):
@Vee, I'm pretty sure that Robinson would shake the Pope's hand if he visited here, why wouldn't he? As for Paisley, which one do you mean, Senior or Junior? If you mean Senior, I doubt very much that a retired politician would be trotted out to meet the Pontiff.
Vee in Belfast wrote (322 days ago):
Now that it is rumoured that Pope Benedict XVI is coming to Northern Ireland - are Peter Robinson and Ian Paisley prepared to shake hands with him? If they do - good on them and also we may at last be on the road to peace.
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