McGuinness Warns Of 'Bogside Ghetto'

Martin McGuinness has said dissident republicans are turning parts of Derry into 'ghettos'.

The Deputy First Minister, whose life is under threat from dissident terrorist groups, warned that small elements of the city's Bogside community are being manipulated by the Real IRA.

Mr McGuinness claimed "so-called political spokespeople" who condemn the activity of local "hoods" are actually instigating trouble in the area.

"They have effectively tried to turn parts of Derry into a slum," said the Sinn Fein man.

The MP recently collected his grandchild from school to find "you're next Martin" graffiti on a nearby wall.

Despite verbal attacks on his family, Mr McGuinness said nothing would stop him from doing his job: "Neither I nor anybody else in Sinn Féin will allow these sort of threats to stop us," he commented.

"People are trying to hijack the Republican cause for their own purpose. Well they're not going to succeed," he said

"We have a job to do. Yes it is a difficult job, and yes it may be a dangerous job, and yes some of us my lose our lives in the future.

"But I am not going to be threatened, I am not going to be intimidated and I am certainly not going to live my life in fear."

Last week Mr McGuinness was warned by police of a specific threat against his life, believed to be orchestrated by dissident republicans.

A source close to the Deputy First Minister said there would be no radical changes made to his security detail in response to the warning.

(PR/BMcC)