McGuinness ready to talk to dissidents

Published Monday, 11 April 2011
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Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has spoken out against the recent spate of dissident republican violence in Northern Ireland.

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Mr McGuinness has warned that dissidents will try to derail peace before the election.

He said Sinn Féin is willing to act as mediators in talks with dissident republican groupings - and are waiting for their response.

Martin McGuinness told UTV: "We have offered to speak to these groups but they haven't had the confidence or the courage to come into a room with us.

"We have been writing to these people, we have sent messages to these people. They're not under any illusions whatsoever about our willingness to speak to them so there has been no deficiency on our side in terms of trying to make contact."

He said that it was very important that the perpetrators of violence were "challenged" by communities.

On Sunday, Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams also spoke about the importance of confronting dissidents and offered to talk to them.

However, Secretary of State Owen Paterson has said the authorities would not be talking to dissidents.

In a short statement he said: "We cannot talk to people who are conducting a totally indiscriminate violent campaign."

On Sunday, thousands attended a peace rally through the centre of Omagh to mark the death of newly recruited police officer Ronan Kerr.

The 25-year-old Catholic died when a bomb exploded under his car in the Co Tyrone town just over a week ago.

The 'Not In My Name' rally was organised to pay tribute to the murdered man and, also, to call for peace. It came after a 500lb bomb was found in a wheelie bin inside a van, which was abandoned on the A1 Belfast-Dublin road outside Newry.

Three men arrested on separate occasions in connection with the killing are still being questioned at Antrim Serious Crime Suite.

Police have been given an extra five days to question a 33-year-old man detained in the Omagh area on Friday.

The two other men being held are aged 26 and 40.

© UTV News
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15 Comments
big ernest aka the mad monk in east antrim wrote (770 days ago):
i see u.tv have not changed their agenda in letting republican ira mouth piece's like TURF to state what they want and accuse others of what they really are , shame on you u.tv and where is my comment to turf ? exactly , the truth hurts ....
Gary in South Derry wrote (771 days ago):
Groups have offered and arranged to meet Gerry and Martin before, they never showed up.
robert in belfast wrote (771 days ago):
Mcguiness and adams talking to bombers is this meant to be a late arpil fools joke
steven in belfast wrote (771 days ago):
Quote from marty"He said that it was very important that the perpetrators of violence were "challenged" by communities" well it was only so many years ago the people did just that about the IRA only to be shot for speaking out. weasle words from sinn fein ira............
wise woman in LISBURN wrote (772 days ago):
Jonny if the dogs on the street know who these people are then im sure so do the police..but theres a small little thing called evidence required! seems to me Martin can do no wrong is some eyes!!!
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