Martin McGuinness a '˜true statesman' - Bloody Sunday Trust

Trust spokesperson Tony Doherty said Mr McGuinness ‘was a great friend and supporter of the Trust, the families and the

Museum of Free Derry’.

He said Mr McGuinness’ death ‘is devastating news, and we would like to first and foremost pass on our condolences to Bernie and the rest of Martin’s family on the loss of such a well-loved husband, father, grandfather and brother’.

“Martin was always a great supporter of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign, and of the work of the Bloody Sunday Trust.

“In particular, during the negotiations with Tony Blair’s Government in 1997, Martin was totally insistent that Bloody Sunday required to be reinvestigated. His insistence paid off in January 1998 with the announcement of the new inquiry; a move totally unprecedented in Irish-British history.”

Mr Doherty added that without Martin’s support the development of the Museum of Free Derry ‘might never have become a reality’.

“More recently, as we sought to develop the Museum of Free Derry, and as some politicians in Government sought to prevent it from becoming a reality, it was Martin that we turned to for help and he did everything he could to remove blockages that others tried to put in our way.”

He said: “The Trust will remember him as a true statesman, as someone who led from the front, who took risks for peace and who never forgot his roots in Derry’s Bogside.

The Trust have said they will remember Mr McGuinness at the official launch of the Museum of Free Derry in the near future and his ‘support and friendship will never be forgotten’.

The Bloody Sunday Trust have opened a book of condolence at the Museum of Free Derry.