President's UK visit not intended to ‘force amnesia’ about past

President Michael D Higgins has insisted his state visit to Britain was not intended to “force amnesia” about the country’s past treatment of Ireland.

Returning to Dublin after the widely praised four-day tour of England, he defended himself against those who had criticised the stance he took.

After a day which saw the Queen bid him an official farewell at Windsor Castle, and Mr Higgins tread the boards at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the President completed his trip with a visit to the Irish community in Coventry.