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Hundreds accompany Martin McGuinness on final journey home

Large crowds gathered to welcome Martin McGuinness's remains home to the Bogside area of Derry th...
Newstalk
Newstalk

17.05 21 Mar 2017


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Hundreds accompany Martin McGu...

Hundreds accompany Martin McGuinness on final journey home

Newstalk
Newstalk

17.05 21 Mar 2017


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Large crowds gathered to welcome Martin McGuinness's remains home to the Bogside area of Derry this afternoon.

The Sinn Féin politician and former Northern Irish deputy first minister died in hospital earlier today after a short illness. He was 66.

Despite freezing conditions, hundreds of people stood along the route and walked alongside the coffin as it was brought through the streets of Derry.

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The initial outside the funeral home gave way to applause as the coffin as the gathered crowd paid their respects to Mr McGuinness.

Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams was among those who took their turn carrying the coffin, while the party's leader in the North Michelle O'Neill was also in attendance today.

Reporter Richard Chamber told Newstalk Drive: "It's been a very, very emotionally charged atmosphere. Snow has been pelting down in Derry for the last few hours.

"They were passing murals... this is a place where pitched battles were fought when Martin McGuinness was in the IRA.

"It all became very poignant. And then of course they passed the very, very famous 'Free Derry' corner. A lot of people had gathered there waiting for the cortège to pass by before it reached Martin McGuinness's home."

He added: "It's been a very difficult day for people here in Derry."

Mr McGuinness's funeral will take place in Derry on Thursday afternoon.

Requiem mass will be held at St Columba's Church Longtower at 2pm, before interment in the City Cemetery.


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