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Arlene Foster: 'We will never see Martin McGuinness's like again'

Former First Minister Arlene Foster pays tribute to Martin McGuinness during a special sitting of the Assembly. Picture from Press Association
Former First Minister Arlene Foster pays tribute to Martin McGuinness during a special sitting of the Assembly. Picture from Press Association Former First Minister Arlene Foster pays tribute to Martin McGuinness during a special sitting of the Assembly. Picture from Press Association

MARTIN McGuinness's legacy was "complex and challenging" and we will never "see his like again", DUP leader Arlene Foster has told the Assembly.

At a special sitting yesterday, Sinn Féin leader in the north Michelle O'Neill paid an emotional tribute to the 66-year-old former deputy First Minister and one-time IRA commander, who she described as a "political visionary".

Mrs Foster said Mr McGuinness's death was "hugely difficult" for victims of the IRA, while acknowledging that to many nationalists and republicans he was a "leader, friend or mentor".

The former first minister added: "It is precisely because of his past, because of his involvement with the IRA in the seventies and eighties because of his influence within those circles that he was able to play the role he played in bringing the republican movement towards using peaceful and democratic means and, because of all of that, I doubt we will ever see his like again."

Mrs Foster said the north had changed "immeasurably for the better and Martin McGuinness did play a role, which I will always condemn, in the seventies and eighties, but I also have to acknowledge the role that he played over this last decade and more in government in Northern Ireland".

During her speech, Mrs Foster quoted from the late Seamus Heaney's The Cure at Troy, saying: "So hope for a great sea change/ On the far side of revenge. Believe that further shore/ Is reachable from here."

Mrs O'Neill told the Assembly her heart was broken yet bursting with pride.

"For the Sinn Féin MLAs in this chamber and for the Irish republican family across this island and beyond he was our leader, he was our inspiration, our role model and he was, above all else, our dear and valued friend," she said.

She added: "The legacy that Martin wished was for a better future based on equality and measured by the joy and laughter of all of our children".

"So on behalf of Sinn Féin I rededicate our party to completing his life's work and to living through his legacy," she said.

During the Assembly session, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Mr McGuinness's journey "started in violence, but ended up very much grounded in principles of peace and partnership".

He urged politicians to resolve their differences and form a new power-sharing government.

"We have the opportunity to do what Martin McGuinness would have wanted us to do. Go down to Stormont Castle (talks venue) and finish the job," he said.

Former Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said it would be "dishonest" of him "to ignore the pain of the victims of the IRA".

But he added: "History will also reflect on Martin McGuinness as more than an IRA commander. History will be very positive about his motivation as a politician.

"If unionism has anything to learn from Martin McGuinness it is the importance of outreach. He reached outside his comfort zone on many occasions but unionism didn't always reciprocate."

Alliance leader Naomi Long paid tribute to Mr McGuinness for his "pivotal role in bringing the violent campaign to an end and moving us to the place we are in today".

She added: "I want to acknowledge there are those who suffered, who today will find this a very difficult time."

Jim Allister of the TUV said his thoughts were primarily with the victims of the IRA.

"Thus I come to note the death of Martin McGuinness, not to praise him," he added.

MLAs later lined up to sign a book of condolence in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings.