McGuinness to meet with victims of IRA
MARTIN McGuinness and victims of IRA violence are to hold an historic face-to-face meeting.
The Deputy First Minister, an ex-IRA commander, has agreed to discussions with a small delegation of people bereaved or injured as a result of the republican terrorist campaign.
The meeting will break new ground in the peace process.
The make-up of the victims' grouping is still to be finalised, but it is expected to include people who, between them, will have lost a dozen or more relatives to IRA bombs and bullets.
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson is also expected to attend.
A spokesman for Mr McGuinness last night confirmed: "Yes he will be meeting with the victims' group. It may be next week, but more likely the week after."
The discussions come as a result of a request by victims' group Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR].
Director William Frazer said: "We welcome this opportunity. There will be those from our community, including the families of murdered UDR, Royal Irish and RUC, who will be very uncomfortable about this.
"I would like to assure them we will not be forgetting them or their sacrifice when we go into this meeting.
"In fact, we will be reminding Mr McGuinness of the hurt, pain and suffering he and his IRA colleagues caused to every last one of them.
"This is not an easy step we take. But our view is that others have legitimised Sinn Fein so what we are doing now is taling the argument to them.
"They want to play at being democrats and say they are now a peaceful and lawful party. Well we intend to test that and challenge them to prove that."
Mr Frazer said there would be frank talking.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Belfast
Monday 28 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
