Queen Elizabeth being accompanied by Martin McGuinness during her visit to Crumlin Road jail yesterday.
Authentic Irish republicans should have protested against rather than took part in Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Crumlin Road jail, a former Derry inmate of the former prison has said.
The British royal was yesterday accompanied by Mr McGuinness during a tour of the former Belfast jail, which is now a museum.
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper before the visit, Danny McBrearty, who spent two periods on remand in the jail during the 1970s, hit out at Mr McGuinness.
He said: “Nothing surprises me any more about Martin McGuinness, so if he does give the Queen of England a guided a tour around the jail where republicans fought and died for their principles, I would not be shocked.
“Authentic republicans should take no part in or welcome this visit to the Crumlin Road jail.
“Instead they should be outside protesting against the presence of a British Queen in a prison where their comrades suffered so much.”
He concluded: “As for McGuinness – he is only shaking hands and guiding around his true boss.”
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