McGuinness: IRA not apologising

Martin McGuinness and Sinn Féin sources have dismissed suggestions that the IRA is preparing to make an unequivocal apology to victims of the troubles, including the North’s security forces.

Reports of the apology come after Mr McGuinness revealed he had sympathised with Queen Elizabeth over her loss in the Troubles during their historic meeting last week.

Mr McGuinness, a former IRA commander, said there were “very important” talks with unionists about a reconciliation process. But he and party sources denied reports that an apology was being discussed.

It was claimed in the Sunday Business Post that the apology would go beyond the one already offered to citizens in general, made in 2005, and would include the British army and government too.

Republicans in recent months have held talks with unionists, and party secretary general Declan Kearney as well as Mr McGuinness have met with Protestant clergymen.

It is thought both sides are discussing the likelihood of a reconciliation commission on the Troubles.

But Mr McGuinness, the North’s deputy first minister, brushed aside suggestions the IRA leadership was set to make an historic apology to the British.

“I don’t know where they’re getting that from because the IRA have gone. I don’t know who’s going to do it,” he told an RTÉ show.

A Sinn Féin party source last night also said: “The IRA won’t be making anymore statements, they’ve left the stage.”

Mr McGuinness also spoke of his historic handshake with Queen Elizabeth during her jubilee visit to the North last week. He said he had addressed the 1979 IRA killing of her cousin Earl Mountbatten.

Mr McGuinness said he would not detail exactly what he said during the eight minute discussion in the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

Referring to the murder off Co Sligo, he said he told the royals that he recognised they had lost a relative.

“I said to the Queen and the Duke they too had lost a loved one,” he said.

Earl Mountbatten, who was also the Duke’s uncle, was killed on board a boat off Mullaghmore by an IRA gang using a radio controlled bomb.

One of the earl’s twin grandsons, Nicholas, 14, and Paul Maxwell, 15, a local teenager employed to help on the boat, also died in the explosion.