He made his announcement earlier today…
Martin McGuinness has said that he will not seek re-election in the forthcoming Northern Ireland assembly elections.
He made the decision after his health deteriorated in recent times due to the fact he is living with a rare genetic disease.
“My obvious health issues are being addressed by a superb team of national health service doctors and nurses,” McGuinness said.
“But I want to be open and honest with my friends and colleagues in Sinn Fein, with the electorate of Foyle and with the wider community beyond my own constituency.
“I also want to be fair to my family and to the teams of carers who are doing their best to provide me with the treatment I now require to deal with this very serious medical condition which I am very determined to overcome.
“Unfortunately, I am not physically able to continue in my current role and have therefore decided to make way for a new leader. ”
This evening, people in Derry showed up to his home to show their support for him and he addressed them in a hugely emotional speech earlier.
Following Martin McGuinness's announcement of his retirement from politics, people in Derry turned out at his home to pay tribute to him pic.twitter.com/M366o2grVZ
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) January 19, 2017
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