FILE: Former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander and current deputy first minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness set to meet Britain's Queen Elizabeth for the first time

Record ID: 899143

  • Title: FILE: Former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander and current deputy first minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness set to meet Britain's Queen Elizabeth for the first time
  • Date: 27th June 2012
  • Summary: BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND, UK (FILE) (REUTERS) BOMB EXPLODING IN TRUCK WOUNDED PERSON ON STREET BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND, UK (FILE - 1971) (REUTERS) BURNING TRUCKS IN STREET PROTESTANT HOMES ON FIRE
  • Embargoed: 12th July 2012 00:07
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ireland, United Kingdom
  • City:
  • Country: Ireland United Kingdom
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations,Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Politics,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVA520NKT0OR8CXDFASVS4XA85PG
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander and current deputy first minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness will meet Britain's Queen Elizabeth for the first time on Wedensday (June 27) marking a milestone in the province's peace process.
    The queen has never met a senior figure in the now-defunct IRA, which killed her relative Lord Mountbatten in 1979, or its political wing Sinn Fein. The party decided on Friday (June 22) to sanction the meeting that would have seemed inconceivable a generation ago.
    McGuinness, a hero among Irish nationalists who fought a bitter three-decade war against British rule, will meet the 86-year-old monarch during a two-day visit to Northern Ireland as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
    Adams said the party's decision was not unanimous but that a clear majority were in favour of the meeting. He also confirmed that McGuinness would "of course" shake hands with the queen.
    Northern Ireland's Unionist first minister Peter Robinson said in a statement the move represented a step forward and he was glad that McGuinness had accepted the invite.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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