Officials told not to ’embarrass’ schools with McGuinness visits, records reveal

The late Martin McGuinness at his desk in the Department of Education in 1999 (PA)

A Stormont department was urged not to “embarrass” schools by asking them to host visits by new education minister Martin McGuinness amid a series of protests at his appointment, archives reveal.

The late former IRA commander’s installation as Sinn Féin minister for education in December 1999 prompted around 50 demonstrations in schools in mainly unionist areas in Northern Ireland, with some pupils walking out of classes to form pickets.