McGuinness: I never killed anyone, and was not responsible for deaths

Martin McGuinness has said he never killed anyone during his time in the IRA, and that he was not indirectly responsible for any deaths.

The Sinn Féin presidential candidate was speaking following speculation about the role he played during his time in the IRA in the 1970s.

Yesterday, government Minister Phil Hogan said he did not think it would be good for Ireland for Martin McGuinness to become President, as he carried too much "baggage".

Broadcaster Gay Byrne last night called the former Northern First Minister a "consistent liar".

Mister McGuinness directly answered questions about his role in the IRA, when speaking to reporters in Cork this morning.

"I didn’t say I never fired a gun…I was in the IRA. There were battles on the streets of Derry. I've never run away from that," he said.

"But I'm not going to sensationalise in interviews something that could then be used to the detriment of the peace process and to the detriment of my colleagues within government."