Theresa May offers condolences to Martin McGuinness' family

British Prime Minister Theresa May offered her condolences in the House of Commons for the death of Martin McGuinness.

Mrs May told MPs she could not "condone or justify" the part played by Mr McGuinness in the Troubles, but hailed his "indispensable" role in moving the republican movement away from violence to democratic methods.

The IRA commander-turned-political leader died in the early hours of Tuesday after a short illness. Requiem Mass will be ccelebrated in Derry on Thursday afternoon.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, Mrs May said: "I would like to express my condolences to the family and colleagues of the former deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, Martin McGuinness.

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"Of course, we do not condone or justify the path he took in the earlier part of his life, and we should never forget that, nor the victims of terrorism.

"However, as my noble friend Lord Trimble set out yesterday, he played an indispensable role in bringing the Republican movement away from violence to peaceful and democratic means and to building a better Northern Ireland."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Commons: "Martin played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland, and it's that peace we all want to endure."

Jeremy Corbyn pays tribute to Martin McGuinness #PMQs pic.twitter.com/XJ2DhAH77I — The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 22, 2017

Mr McGuinness, who died from a rare heart condition, completed an extraordinary political journey from an IRA leader in Derry to sharing power and a remarkable friendship with his erstwhile foe, Democratic Unionist leader Dr Ian Paisley.

He also struck up a warm relationship with the Queen, whom he praised for her contribution to peace. She is to send a personal message to Mr McGuinness's family.

The Sinn Fein stalwart is survived by his wife Bernie and four children.

Mr McGuinness's last major act as a politician was to pull down the powersharing executive at Stormont when he resigned as deputy first minister in January in protest at the DUP's handling of a green energy scandal.

The move forced Mrs Foster from office and 10 days later, showing signs of physical frailty, Mr McGuinness announced his retirement from frontline politics due to ill health.