McGuinness brands dissident republicans 'no-hopers'

Dissident republicans were today branded no-hopers by Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness after the North was put on high alert for a potential terrorist attack.

A day after the Police Service of Northern Ireland kept up checkpoints across the province, Mr McGuinness launched an angry broadside at hard-line republicans opposed to his party’s involvement in power sharing.

After he arrived at a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council’s summit involving Irish Government and Stormont Executive ministers, Mr McGuinness said: “There are still people within our society who believe that violence is the way forward.

“Well my message to them is they who believe that are no-hopers.

“They are people who are going nowhere and they are people who are totally and absolutely detached from the reality of life on this island at this time.

“The four people who stand before you represent the democratic, peaceful wishes of all of the people on this island north and south and we are not going to be deflected by anyone or any group whatsoever from the work that we are engaged in because we have the overwhelming support of the people.”