SINN FÉIN presidential candidate Martin McGuinness has denied any involvement in the killing of Derryman Frank Hegarty who was shot dead by the IRA as an alleged “informer” 25 years ago.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin yesterday, he said he had “no role whatsoever” in the death of Hegarty (45), whose body was found on a Border road near Castlederg, Co Tyrone, on May 25th, 1986.
“What we have seen in the newspapers, I have to say, is a total and absolute misrepresentation of what happened at that particular time. I was an elected representative in the city [of Derry], elected for the first time in 1982, and dealt with all sorts of situations that occurred.
“At the time that Frank Hegarty went missing out of Derry, it was being said by his family that he had been kidnapped by British intelligence and taken away. So that was the circumstances.
“Now, I could go into great detail about what actually happened during the course of that period, but to do so I think would be very hurtful and indeed damaging to some people within the Hegarty family.
“I’m not going to add to their grief and their pain except to say that what has been written in the papers is a total misrepresentation of the role I played at that time,” he said.
Separately, DUP Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster called on the Sinn Féin candidate yesterday to co-operate with an Historical Enquiries Team investigation into the Remembrance Day Enniskillen bombing.
The Fermanagh Assembly member said if Mr McGuinness was truly ashamed about the 1987 bombing which killed 11 people – as he said he was on RTÉ on Wednesday night – then he should have no difficulty co-operating with the inquiry.
Ms Foster said the speculation for decades was that members of the IRA from Derry carried out the attack. She added that Mr McGuinness was the second in command of the IRA in Derry, although Mr McGuinness continues to say he left the organisation in 1974.
Stephen Gault, who was badly injured in the bombing and whose father Samuel was killed, said Mr McGuinness’s remarks “were not an apology”.
In a separate development, Mr McGuinness was asked whether he had any information that would assist the Smithwick Tribunal inquiry into allegations of Garda collusion in the IRA murder of two RUC officers.
John McBurney, solicitor for the family of murdered RUC Chief Supt Harry Breen, told reporters yesterday that Mr McGuinness had said he was “ashamed” of the IRA bombing of Enniskillen.
The Breen family would like to know was Mr McGuinness also ashamed of what happened to the two RUC officers in 1989.
The solicitor said he wished Mr McGuinness to consider whether he has any information to offer to the tribunal.
If Mr McGuinness did have information, he should give evidence to the tribunal, with the same protections available to him as other witnesses, he said.
Mr McBurney said he understood Mr McGuinness had been named by a potential witness as someone who may have information to assist the tribunal.
Mr McGuinness’s spokesman said last night the candidate had no specific knowledge about the matters under investigation but “would have no problem” appearing at the tribunal if called.
The spokesman added that Mr McGuinness had been involved in negotiations with the British and Irish governments at Weston Park and elsewhere which led to the establishment of the tribunal.