Kilclooney: McGuinness went from evil to peaceful leadership
As one who was the subject of an IRA assassination attempt, when minister at Home Affairs in 1972 in Northern Ireland and then staying in the Grand Hotel in Brighton when it was the target of an IRA bomb I have obviously had reason to watch Martin McGuinness closely.
He was originally an evil man who never sought forgiveness and thus he cannot be forgiven.
However I am satisfied that he genuinely gave leadership to pursue peaceful politics and to that extent served Northern Ireland well in his later years.
I do despair that there is no obvious leadership amongst the present leaders within Sinn Fein.
They need someone with the same qualities as Martin McGuinness.
Lord Kilclooney, Armagh