19/01/2017 BBC Newsline

Martin McGuinness is stepping down from politics for

Our main story tonight: Martin McGuinness announces he will not

The man who went from IRA commander to meeting the Queen tells us why

Really, have been dealing with this health situation for the last couple

of months. It is a very illness. It has taken its toll on me, but I'm

It has taken its toll on me, but I'm very determined to overcome it.

I'm live on Derry's Walls, where I'll be getting reaction

to the news and analysis from our political

Also tonight: A DUP Special Advisor accused of exerting influence

I have this afternoon being notified that Doctor Andrew Croft Road has

resigned as Special Advisor in the department of agriculture.

The green energy controversy burns on as the Sinn Fein Finance Minister

The gloom has started to lift for some.

West is best, but it could be cold there tonight?

A former Provisional IRA commander who ended up shaking

hands with the Queen, Martin McGuinness today said

he will not be standing again for election.

He has been one of the dominant figures of the last five decades.

In recent weeks, of course, despite a serious health condition,

the 65-year-old is said to have had a key role in Sinn Fein's decision

to prompt a snap election, a move in itself triggered

by his resignation, after ten years, as Deputy First Minister.

He made his announcement in his home city this afternoon.

He is a man who sharply divided views.

Many could not forgive his past, but others were amazed

at his journey from the violence of the Bogside, here

behind me, in the late 60s, to the grandeur of Windsor Castle.

Our political editor, Mark Devenport, who will be

joining us shortly, spoke to Martin McGuinness this

afternoon and asked him first about his decision not

In the aftermath of the Assembly elections last year I agreed to stay

on. I was honoured to be asked to stay on as Deputy First Minister. I

said I would do it for a further year, bringing me to the 8th of May

this year, which would've been the tenth anniversary of into government

with Ian Paisley, which was an historic moment. I thought I was an

appropriate time for me to stand aside as Deputy First Minister and

make way for the new Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister, but, of

course, the best laid plans of mice and men came into play. We have had

two situations to deal with, I have had two situations to deal with. One

is the crisis at Stormont, and my own health problems, which have come

after that. Really, I have been dealing with this health situation

for the last couple of months. It is a very serious illness. It has taken

its toll on me. But I am very determined to overcome it. The

question I ask myself is, are you capable, physically capable of

fighting this selection with the intensity that elections need to be

thought? Be honest answer is I am not physically capable or able to

fight this election, so I will not be a candidate in the upcoming

election. Aren't you disappointed that your decision to retire from

politics has come at the time when the Stormont institutions have

effectively collapsed and how hard do you think it will be to restore

them? I think they are restorable. If there is a will to face up to not

go back to the starter's gun will. I think that poses particular

challenges to everybody, but more so to the DUP in terms of recognising

that serious questions have been asked about the handling of

different situations in the course of recent times, so I think that is

a particular disappointment. I don't actually remember the last time I

heard a member of the DUP use the word reconciliation. A particular

disappointment to me in this, a small point in relation to the big

act of reconciliation I have been involved in, prior to the European

Championships, the soccer championships in France this year,

we suggested to the DUP that Arlene and I should travel to France and go

together to Ireland game, to a public game, and they refused to go.

I wasn't asking her to go to 1916 commemorative, it was a football

match. It was an opportunity to reach out and Arlene went to the

Northern Ireland match and I went to both. Sinn Fein have been discussing

a general transition in the leadership. How long will Gerry

Adams remain a place as party president? Will he also handed over

to a new generation? We have been seriously engaged on this matter and

that all previous my taken ill. I think that from my perspective, and

Jerry's perspective, our plan is in place and that will unfold over

time. I have taken the first step. It certainly represents a serious

declaration of our intent to ensure that the transition process

continues. Gerry Adams is not going to jump at the behest of people who

are writing the newspapers are mounting this, that and the other.

It will be done according to the plan we have laid out. Your journey

has been remarkable from the early days when you are open about your

role within the IRA, to the later days when you have been seen as a

peacemaker. Looking back on that, do you regret anything about your

endorsement of the use of violence to further your errands? People need

to look at the circumstances in the city when I joined the IRA. It was a

city where people were being murdered at the RUC, murdered

wholesale as they were on bloody Sunday, but The Parachute Regiment,

and the fact that many young people like myself, supported by many

thousands of people in the city, not saying there was a majority, decided

to fight back. I don't regret any of that. My journey has been a long

journey. I have been over 25 years working on building the base.

Epitomised I suppose the fact that since I have taken ill I have had

many many thousands of letters and messages of support right throughout

the community, but the ones that mean a lot to me in all of that

either many, many messages that have come from Protestant churchmen ride

across the churches, from ordinary Protestant people, and the fact that

I am in the prayer is says something about the impact I hope I have made

it with my will to reach out. The end of Martin McGuinness' career

came suddenly today. Mervyn Jess looks back

on a life that went He started out as an IRA leader from

the bogside in Derry and became the Deputy First Minister of the

power-sharing assembly at Stormont. It was in the early 1970s that

Martin McGuinness first came to prominence in the media. As the

officer commanding the very part of the IRA operation, can't you say if

the bombing is likely to stop the near future due to public demand? We

will always take into consideration the feelings of the people of Derry.

Raised in the bogside in the early 1950s as one of the large Catholic

nationalist family, his father, William, was a foundry worker and

his mother Peggy a housewife and mother of seven. As confidence grew

in the city, young Martin McGuinness join the IRA and move quickly

through its ranks. He was part of an Irish delegation involved with

secret talks with William Whitelaw in London. He was jailed in the

Republic prior rate membership and afterwards was less candid about his

role within the republican movement. I have never said that I was in the

IRA. Reports that they have been in the IRA are rung true but I regard

them as a compliment. The bombings and killings continued and by the

early 1980s Martin McGuinness was standing for election in Jim prior's

assembly, but did not renounce the IRA campaign. At the end of the day

it will be the cutting edge of IRA that will bring freedom. Along with

Gerry Adams he was instrumental in leading republicans towards

political compromise by recognising the Dail, but only the Dail. As part

of the Sinn Fein peace strategy had been involved in protracted integral

talks with the British government. He results of the party's chief

negotiator during the drawing up of the Good Friday Agreement. I

nominate Martin McGuinness plus as Minister for education. His first

post as Education Minister was defined by the scrapping of the

11-Plus exam. In January 2007, Sinn Fein through its support behind the

new Police Service of Northern Ireland, paving the way for its

appointment as Deputy First Minister, along with Ian Paisley as

First Minister. This most unlikely combination got done by the media as

the chuckle Brothers. No surrender! I ever, his relationships with First

Minister is Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster for a businesslike and

at times acrimonious. Giving evidence to the Bloody Sunday

inquiry, he admitted being in the IRA and his paramilitary past

continued to dog him while canvassing for the presidency of

Ireland. I want justice for my father. I believe that you know the

names of the killers of my father and I want you to tell me who they

are. Sinn Fein boycotted the Queen's first visit to the Republic but when

she came to Belfast the following year Martin McGuinness was one of

those who welcomed her to the city. It was an encounter that was to be

repeated several times in the years ahead. How are you keeping? Fine,

thank you very much. His view that these gestures were not sufficiently

recognised or reciprocated by Unionist became a source of tension

with Arlene Foster. When he resigned his post as Deputy First Minister

earlier this month, he cited DUP arrogance among the reasons for it.

Martin McGuinness's departure is a pivotal moment in politics within

these islands. Until the day I retire from politics or die, is to

build a better future for all of our people. It is a political project,

It is a political project, not a military one.

Mark Devenport is with me now. After speaking to Martin McGuinness this

afternoon, did it seem like the end of his political career? He didn't

use the word retirement but that is the way of felt. It felt that the

end of an era. His close family was there, his wife, his son, one of his

brothers to support him during this it was clear that what he still

envisages ambassadorial role, he will not be in the front line

politics and I would imagine those around him might be saying take some

time to overcome this illness. He tantalised us, the offers they have

the name of the new Northern leader, his successor, but they won't say

who that might be. They also have a date in mind for Gerry Adams to step

down. Again, they would reveal the details. Surely there is a

generational change underway and whoever that generation is the wolf

is uncertain times. We can only hope that they won't have to face the

times that Martin McGuinness has been through. He still looked frail.

He looked weak, but maybe stronger than on the day when he resigned as

Deputy First Minister. He looked stronger today. That is all from

Derry's walls of the moment. A DUP Special Adviser who has been

accused of exerting influence in the Renewable Heat Incentive

scheme has resigned. Yesterday, a senior

civil servant said that, although he had no direct evidence,

he understood the adviser Dr Andrew Crawford was the person

who influenced the decision to keep Today, Arlene Foster

announced his resignation. She also said she welcomed a move

by the Finance Minister, Mairtin O Muilleoir,

who is to bring forward plans for a public inquiry

into the RHI scheme. Here is our political

correspondent Stephen Walker. Another day of drama at Stormont

that involved the fallout from the renewable heating scheme. Doctor

Andrew Crawford, who was at DUP Special Advisor, became the first

political casualty. Yesterday, a senior civil servants said that

although he had no direct evidence, he understood that Doctor Robert was

the only influence the decision to keep the heating scheme running,

something that Doctor Crawford denied. He was once Arlene Foster's

Special Advisor. Today she announced his resignation. Andrew has felt

that given what occurred yesterday and indeed today that he was

becoming a distraction to the important work not only of his

Minister but indeed he was becoming the story and anybody who knows

Andrew Crawford knows that he is a very private person and he certainly

didn't want to become the story. Tonight, Andrew Crawford released

this statement. Before Andrew Cropper design, the

Finance Minister announced was to set up a public enquiry under the

Inquiries Act, something that Sinn Fein previously opposed. There are

shortcomings in the enquiries act, so for example ministerial

interference. I am making a pledge today I will not interfere in any

way. It is also delivered to the minister, so I am making a pledge

nine that we would ensure that any report will go direct to the public.

Sinn Fein's decision was welcomed by Arlene Foster who said she was

delighted an investigation would be established. I am pleased that an

enquiry will be set up and finally we will get some due process in and

around these matters and we will get to the truth of what happens in

relation to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme. As I have always

said and was confirmed yesterday in committee, I have nothing to hide.

The SDLP have welcomed the news about the enquiry, the Ulster

unionists want to know what its terms of reference will be. It is

another twist in a story that has dominated the headlines for the past

month. Today's news about the departure of iron to Crawford comes

after the Spotlight fell on another Special Advisor. John Robinson is

departure we step aside, withdrawn from any future involvement in the

scheme after failing to declare her family link. His father in law

receives money from the scheme for two boilers, but he declares he has

the personal financial interest in the scheme and has not benefited.

The DDB says Mr Robinson is part of his tapping aside to avoid the

perception of a conflict of interest.

Let's hear from Naomi Long, the leader of the Alliance Party. What

is your reaction to this news of the public enquiry finally being

announced? I have to say I am hugely frustrated that after a month of

calling for once we had two ministers rushing to try to get the

public enquiry over the line this evening. You do have to wonder if

there is such enthusiasm for a public enquiry not why I couldn't

have been done in a more timely fashion in December. I have written

to Simon Hamilton and Mairtin O Muilleoir to set up what we believe

is believe are the basic terms and conditions required so that the

public will have confidence in that enquiry, because it is in the case

of both parties it is a fig leaf to cover embarrassment before they can

go to the polls in March. Will it take some of the heat of the DUP

when it comes to the doorsteps of the election campaign? Though, I

don't. If they have the public enquiry at the time we would not

have had this corrosive drip feed of information into the public domain.

I think that has been the most damaging aspect of this entire

tobacco. What we needed to do was deal with this in a timely and

mature way. We have collapsed or institutions at Stormont over this.

People this morning were still arguing if a public enquiry was

necessary. You can almost smell the burning rubber from the U-turns that

have been done on this issue over the last couple of weeks. It is

ridiculous. Public patient has been tried to its limit. I don't figure

that will take the heat off, it simply confirms that the only

interest that we have from the DUP as one of self-interest and

self-preservation, it is not public interest or this would've been done

in December. Turning to Martin McGuinness, it has been a sad

note to his legacy? It is particularly sad that he is stepping

aside at the time when these institutions which he invested so

much are actually in such a precarious situation. From my

perspective I want to wish you good health. I know that he has been ill

and ankle that is something wrong with he can recover and is able to

enjoy his retirement. I would also have to say that I want to thank him

for the acts of generosity that he displayed on occasion, that were

able to keep these institutions working and were able to build into

the peace process. I hope that the next generation of people coming

through will be able to return that spirit of generosity that we saw,

for example between Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness as we need it now.

We asked the DUP and the Ulster Unionist to take part in the

programme this evening, but no one was available. The news that Martin

McGuinness was not seeking re-election public this afternoon.

This is the reaction from some people on the streets of Derry. He

has done a good job over the years. I think he was pushed into making

some sort of decision by the heating thing. I think he has done a good

job over the years and he has to relax now, he has done is better and

some of them younger people need to come to an stand-up. I don't really

follow politics, to be honest with you. The man's help us to be as

primary concern. I think because he is sick it is probably the right

thing to do. Health comes first. I think that he should do that, but

that leaves us in turmoil, definitely. God only knows where we

are going from here. Colum Eastwood joins me now. I

suppose that is good news for you that he will be running for

re-election. First of all want to say we are all thinking of him and

we hope to get time and space to fight this latest battle. I have

always find Martin to be very respectful of me and very warm to me

and I have always got on with them on a personal basis. Of course we

have political differences, but I am worried about him in terms of his

health in which all the best. But politically speaking, does that the

door for SDLP in the city? This isn't a night for talking about

politics in that way. It is important that we remember what

journey he has been on. I always thought that he was someone who

could speak beyond and act beyond his own electoral base, and I think

that stood him and all of us in good stead. I want a repeat that we wish

all the best. Can talk about the politics of adults Mothergate.

Mairtin O Muilleoir lodged a public enquiry into the temp two scheme.

What is your reaction? We are glad that he has done that. We have been

calling for a public enquiry since before Christmas. Mairtin O

Muilleoir argued against the public enquiry for a number of weeks, but

it is important that we have done it. We need to get to the truth of

all of this. In all of the political distraction over the last couple of

weeks, people on the street want to know why the scheme was brought

about in such a way, Wyatt is going to cost so much, who knew about it

and what can be done about it. We didn't ask for an election. We

wanted a full public enquiry into all of this and for Arlene Foster to

step aside for that period. Hopefully, this enquiry will be

allowed to be independent and could do its job quickly and effectively.

We want to know the truth and hold people accountable. Colum Eastwood,

thank you. With me now is the Reverend David

Latimer, of First Derry You struck up a friendship of Martin

McGuinness. I did that come about? First Derry is situated on the

historic walls of the city, just adjacent to the bogside. It was not

unusual for our church to be spattered with paint a different

colours. On one occasion I thought we have to do something about this.

It happened one evening and I was on the redo the next morning and they

said there is only one person in this city who can sort this out, I

said it is a man who wore a cap in the past I give him a lot of

authority and I don't think he is lost in the event. Martin

McGuinness. Within 20 minutes Sinn Fein called it said that Martin

would like to meet you. The next morning we met in the first Derry

Presbyterian Church. I was a bit nervous. I was struggling in the

kitchen with tea bags and everything was going everywhere. I had this

voice saying, David, do you want to do the storms and I look after the

tea. Our common humanity seem to descend on us and that was the start

of a friendship that has continued and grown for a decade. He made

particular mention about that support from Protestants during his

illness in his interview this afternoon. I am assuming that you're

one of them. Yes. I have been inundated with phone calls and text

messages and e-mails from people within the Protestant tradition and

in those churches who seem to think I have an inside track into Martin.

While I was saying nothing to them, I was sending all of this

information to Martin and I was assuring him that prayers were being

said that were valuing the role that he had played and for remembering

him. I entered one of those text messages with these words, unless it

are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Sons of God. He did divide

opinion, but do you think he was a friendly new union of -- -- a friend

to unionism? That's not look at the past, but the man he became. It is

almost like a St Paul journey, the about turn and the passion

associated with his journey to build a better future not just for

nationalists and republicans young people, but for young people within

the Unionist and loyalist communities. I described him as a

true great leader of modern times and people but I my trolley. Look at

the journey, what amount. He wants a place that is called no one. Thank

you. David Latimer was talking the about

the journey of Martin McGuinness. How do you view his journey? What a

journey, from a man who'd used to walk the streets behind us on the

bogside as an IRA commander to somebody who was present here on

bloody Sunday, then to turn up at Windsor Castle at a banquet in

honour of the Queen. Many people would see him as a politician who

was not afraid to step outside their comfort zone and take a lot of

criticism from many for doing that. Others will always see him as an IRA

commander, a man whose fingerprints are all over the Troubles and there

will be apathetic over his decision to walk away from politics tonight.

He is a political animal and you may not be surprised to see the pops up

again on the political radar at some stage in the future. He has four

children and seven grandchildren and a passion for fishing, so I'm sure

he would have lots of things to keep them occupied in the meantime. Back

to you, on another important day in our political history.

Most of us had dull, cloudy skies again today but there have been some

subtle changes. We had sunnier skies across the Republic pushing up into

western areas. We will have those clear spells for a time tonight. A

lovely day parts of the West with blue skies. The clear spells

lingering parts of the West, Clyde in the east. It is likely to stay

that way through the night, the odd pocket of drizzle but in the drive.

Further west with the clear spells linger could get close to freezing,

and that could lead to some mist and fog patches and the odd of Frost. I

have a feeling that the snowdrops and County Fermanagh are unlikely to

be shivering by tomorrow morning. Eventually, the West End is at best

a moral, but it is to begin with we have ploughed in the east and

central areas and it will start to track its way towards the west but

will start to clear as we head into the afternoon. Some Sun Chang moving

into the south, and central areas. Parts of the East fairly cloudy with

patchy drizzle, but not amounting to a great deal. Into tomorrow night,

with more clear skies we will see how widespread frost developing.

Into the weekend, it will be generally colder. Fine on Saturday,

cloudy on Sunday that the only drive.

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