MARTIN McGUINNESS last night moved to deal with a serious challenge to his presidential campaign caused by a dramatic confrontation in Athlone with a man whose father was murdered by the IRA.
McGuinness continued to hold his long held position on the murderers of Gardai and Irish Solidiers when he refused to condemn the murders or those who had committed those murders.
McGuinness would not condemn the killings of Pte Patrick Kelly and Gary Sheehan, a Garda trainee from Co Monaghan, who were murdered by the IRA in Derrada Woods near Ballinamore, Co Leitrim, during a joint Garda and Army operation to rescue businessman Don Tidey in 1983.
Mr McGuinness was speaking after being confronted by David Kelly, the son of the late Pte Kelly, yesterday while the presidential candidate was canvassing in Athlone, Co Westmeath.
Mr Kelly described the Sinn Féin politician as a “liar” for saying he did not know the identity of the IRA members who murdered his father in 1983.
He also asserted that Mr McGuinness was a member of the IRA army council at the time. Mr McGuinness denied he was lying about the matter, was in the IRA at the time or was a member of its army council.
Mr Kelly, from Moate, Co Westmeath, held a picture of his father in front of Mr McGuinness as he told him: “I want justice for my father. I believe you know the names of the killers of my father and I want you to tell me who they are. You were on the army council of the IRA.”
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