BPP COMMENT: When will there be an inquiry into how a known multiple murderer became second-minister in a devolved UK parliament?


ONE of the BBC's most senior journalists has told how as an IRA man Martin McGuinness chillingly followed him around Londonderry one night.
John Simpson, the BBC's world affairs editor, recalled how as he worked as a journalist in the city in the early years of the Troubles the then IRA commander followed him around in a car.

Mr Simpson made the revelation during a discussion about Bloody Sunday with former Tory cabinet minister Michael Portillo and other guests on the BBC political television programme This Week.

Mr Portillo said of the Saville report: "I think it puts a certain pressure on Martin McGuinness because there's someone who's moved into the very front line of politics and now occupies the number two position in Northern Ireland yet we don't know the truth about his history."

Mr Simpson interjected: "I know what the truth is and it's not very nice. I was followed around by Martin McGuinness all one night in a car and I thought that was my last night.

"He was not known as 'the butcher of Derry' for nothing."

However, Mr Simpson went on to praise Mr McGuinness for his "extraordinary turnaround".

"I wouldn't cross the road to shake his hand but I honour that, I think, magnificent and courageous decision of his," he added.

Speaking of the events of Bloody Sunday and the 1972 Widgery report into the 14 killings by the paratroopers, Mr Simpson said: "I just thought the whole thing was disgusting and disgraceful.

"But what was worse was the Widgery Tribunal, which I think was one of the worst things this country has witnessed... a whitewash that made other whitewashes look quite colourful.

"It made the Hutton Report (into the apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly) look like a beacon of truth."

Mr Portillo added: "It is true that this is not typical of the performance of the army in Northern Ireland, which mainly was absolutely heroic and brilliant."