Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness says 'very serious illness' has forced him to quit frontline politics

Martin McGuinness has admitted he is seriously ill and said he is quitting frontline politics because he is not “in a physical state” to fight an election campaign.

The veteran Sinn Fein politician resigned as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister last week in protest against the handling of a botched energy scheme, forcing a snap election.

His resignation was intended to force DUP leader and First Minister Arlene Foster to quit but has resulted in new elections because of her refusal to resign.

Mr McGuinness will not contest the election due to ill health
Mr McGuinness will not contest the election due to ill health Credit: PA

It was last week reported that Mr McGuinness suffering from the rare disease amyloidosis and was said to have just six years to live.

In an interview of Thursday, he revealed that after "a lot of thinking" he will not be contesting the upcoming election due to ill health.

"The question I asked myself was 'are you physically capable of fighting an intensive 5/6 week election and doing it to my full abilities?' I rapidly came to the conclusion that I am not in any physical state to fight such a campaign. So I have taken the decision that I will not be a candidate in the upcoming election," he said.

He added: "On medical advice last year I was advised not to travel to China and in the aftermath of that I underwent a whole series of tests. As a result of those tests I have been diagnosed with a very serious illness which has taken a toll on me.

"But I am being cared for by wonderful doctors and nurses within our national health service and I am very determined to overcome this condition but it is going to take time."

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams expressed his sadness after the announcement, tweeting “three of us in the car crying over Martin McGuinness”.

The prime minister Theresa May said Martin McGuinness moved the republican movement towards peace.

"I want to send him best wishes for his retirement," she said.

"We will all continue to work to make sure that the people of Northern Ireland are able to live freely and in peace."

Mr McGuinness said he had intended to stand aside in May
Mr McGuinness said he had intended to stand aside in May Credit: PA

Mr McGuinness said he had intended to stand aside in May, on the 10th anniversary of going into government with the DUP's Ian Paisley.

However, he said that the DUP's handling of the Renewable Heating Initiative (RHI) scandal left him with "no other alternative" but to resign earlier this month.

Ms Foster's refusal to step aside pending an interim report into the scheme was her "biggest mistake", Mr McGuinness told the Press Association.

"God knows where it is all going to end. But quite clearly at the heart of it is a very clear perception of not just incompetence, but allegations of corruption are flying all over the place. That was an intolerable situation for me to find myself in."

"As someone who has worked night and day over the course of 10 years to keep the institutions intact, and of course many conversations with both the British and Irish Government about the DUP, it was particularly disappointing having kept up the institutions for almost 10 years that I found myself with no other alternative but to resign. And of course that has led to an election."

Mr McGuinness leaving Stormont 
Mr McGuinness leaving Stormont  Credit: PA

Mr McGuinness said a new candidate to lead the party into the elections will be announced next week.

He added that although his electoral career is now at an end, his political career is not.

Martin McGuinness meets wellwisher as he leaves Derry hotel after announcing he is quitting frontline politics
Martin McGuinness meets wellwisher as he leaves Derry hotel after announcing he is quitting frontline politics Credit:  Trevor McBride

"I hopefully will overcome this illness through time. I am very determined to be an ambassador for peace, unity and reconciliation.

"Reconciliation, I have always believed, is the next vital stage of the peace process.

"My record of reaching out, whether it be to Queen Elizabeth - and her record of reaching out to me on several occasions - my visits to the Somme, to Flanders field, have not been reciprocated by the DUP and that is a particular disappointment to me."

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