from paramilitary to peacemaker — martin mcguinness says he is stepping down permanently from political life. a former leader of the ira, his politicaljourney took him to an unlikely partnership in government in northern ireland. recently it's been revealed mr mcguinness has been suffering from a serious illness. the question i ask myself is, are you physically capable of fighting this election with the intensity elections need to be fought? the answer is, i am not physically capable. we'll look back at the career of man who has been loved, loathed, feared and revered in northern ireland. also tonight: buried under the snow — dozens are feared dead in italy as an avalanche crushes a hotel, rescuers sealdjiolsm and coming up in sportsday later in the hour on bbc news:

it's a one—day series defeat for england's cricketers in india. they fall short in what would have been a record run chase. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. it has been a politicaljourney that has taken him from the leadership of the ira and prison, to negotiations with westminster, to one of the most senior positions in northern ireland politics. from political life. he resigned as northern ireland's deputy first minister last week following a dispute

with first minister, arlene foster. mr mcguinness has been suffering from a serious illness in recent months. martin mcguinness is one of the most controversial leaders in british and irish politics. he has been a centralfigure in northern ireland's pain and peace. now he is standing down due to illness. i have to be honest with myself. the question i ask myself, are you physically capable of fighting this election with the intensity elections need to be fought? be honest and says, i not physically capable. his background lay in the civil rights riots in londonderry, but martin mcguinness chose violent resistance. by the age londonderry, but martin mcguinness ch 21 5 violent resistance. by the age londonderry, but martin mcguinness ch 21 he olent resistance. by the age can say

"7 w, eteginf—v—rr— , public the man? i always take on the alwa iwt: considerations of people with derry and these feelings will be passed on to dublin. he served two prison sentences in the irish republic and was convicted of ira membership. he openly attended ira events. he denied he was the ira chief of staff, but regarded it as a compliment. we don't bring winning any elections votes will bring freedom to ireland. it'll be the cutting edge of the ira that will bring freedom. today he was asked if he had any regrets about his days in the ira? people have too consider the ira? people have too consider the circumstances in the city when i didjoin the circumstances in the city when i did join the ira. we had a city where people were being murdered the ruc and they were murdered wholesale, as it were on bloody sunday by the parachute - and 't}1.3fa.=f m was massif;

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