Martin McGuinness receives death threat from Continuity IRA

The Continuity IRA planned to use a rocket launcher to kill Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister, it has been revealed.

Martin McGuinness said he was warned of the CIRA plot by the PSNI.

In a statement, Mr McGuinness said: “I have been made aware the PSNI has discovered a plan to launch a rocket attack against me.

“The PSNI has said that a group calling itself ‘CIRA’ considered an attack against me using a rocket launcher.”

A decision by Mr McGuinness to meet the Queen in 2012 caused outrage among hardline dissident republicans opposed to the peace process in Northern Ireland.

He has since met the Queen on three occasions including as a guest at a Windsor Castle banquet last year.

The Sinn Féin MLA added: “I will not be silenced or deterred. These people are only interested in plunging us back into the past.

“If those behind this threat think they have the ability to destroy the peace agreements which have been endorsed by the overwhelming majority of the people of Ireland then they are clearly detached from reality.

“They need to wise up, listen to the people of Ireland and abandon these futile actions.

“This threat will not stop me or anyone in Sinn Féin from our work in representing everyone in our society and continuing to pursue our political objectives.”

PA