Northern Ireland

Martin McGuinness's son dismisses Jane Fonda's claims over Derry visit

Jane Fonda speaking to Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ's Late Late Show
Jane Fonda speaking to Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ's Late Late Show Jane Fonda speaking to Ryan Tubridy on RTÉ's Late Late Show

MARTIN McGuinness's son has dismissed as "fiction" claims by US actress Jane Fonda that a bloodied body was carried into his father's Derry home when she visited during the Troubles.

In an interview on RTE's Late Late Show, the Hollywood star also claimed her late husband Tom Hayden dipped his fingers in the blood to show their son.

Fonda told host Ryan Tubridy they had been looking for Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams during their visit in 1976.

"But somebody directed us to Martin McGuinness's home. We were sitting in the living room when a body was carried in, bleeding a lot. It was the Troubles and it was sort of shocking," she said.

The 82-year-old said the couple's son Troy, who was aged around six or seven, was with them at the time.

"Tom put some of the blood on his fingers and said to Troy, 'Your forefathers, your forebearers, your people'," she added.

The recording of the interview via video call then moved on without elaboration.

Mr McGuinness's son Fiachra later posted on Twitter a photograph taken during Fonda's visit.

He tweeted: "Jane Fonda telling a different story from the one that actually happened. Here she is happy enough with my father at his home."

He added: "Jane Fonda bringing a fiction movie to the Bogside in Derry."

Fiachra also complained about the little time given to the visit during the interview, describing it as "heavily edited and quite obvious to us viewers".

The late Mr McGuinness previously spoke publicly about Fonda's visit, but there was no mention of any bodies.

He said he had returned from Sunday Mass to find the actress sitting in his kitchen.

The former IRA commander turned Stormont leader said he and his family showed Fonda and her family around the Bogside and made them dinner.

"They stayed with us all day," he added.