McGuinness '˜loved Northern Ireland', says Bill Clinton

It was sent out over the internet via a pro-Clinton website called www.still4hill.com.

At time of writing last night, it is not believed that the current President Donald Trump, or his recent predecessor Barack Obama, had issued a statement on his death.

The statement read: “Hillary and I were saddened to learn of the death of Martin McGuinness, who devoted his life to his beloved Northern Ireland.

“When he decided to fight for peace, Martin was calm, courageous, and direct. And when he gave his word, that was as good as gold.”

Like other Sinn Fein figures, Mr McGuinness himself spoke of “the North” when referring to the six-county country in which he lived, not “Northern Ireland”.

Mr Clinton’s statement said Mr McGuinness had “believed in a shared future, and refused to live in the past, a lesson all of us who remain should learn and live by”.

It concluded: “May he rest in peace.”