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Irish President Michael D Higgins in historic UK visit | Irish President Michael D Higgins in historic UK visit |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Irish President Michael D Higgins has been welcomed to the UK by the Royal Family at the start of the first state visit by an Irish head of state. | Irish President Michael D Higgins has been welcomed to the UK by the Royal Family at the start of the first state visit by an Irish head of state. |
Later he is due to address both Houses of Parliament - another historic first. | Later he is due to address both Houses of Parliament - another historic first. |
Ahead of the trip he said Anglo-Irish relations were at a high but warned there was "significant work" to do secure peace in Northern Ireland. | Ahead of the trip he said Anglo-Irish relations were at a high but warned there was "significant work" to do secure peace in Northern Ireland. |
His trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago. | His trip comes after the Queen became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland three years ago. |
Then Sinn Fein did not take part, but on Tuesday Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, a former IRA commander, will attend a banquet hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle. | Then Sinn Fein did not take part, but on Tuesday Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, a former IRA commander, will attend a banquet hosted by the Queen at Windsor Castle. |
Mr Higgins said: "I think Her Majesty in coming to Ireland and addressing for example issues of relations between our two people was doing it the right way." | Mr Higgins said: "I think Her Majesty in coming to Ireland and addressing for example issues of relations between our two people was doing it the right way." |
He was greeted at the Irish embassy in London earlier by Prince Charles before heading to Windsor where he shook hands with the Queen and Prince Philip. | He was greeted at the Irish embassy in London earlier by Prince Charles before heading to Windsor where he shook hands with the Queen and Prince Philip. |
As is customary on official state visits, the president will lay a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, central London. | As is customary on official state visits, the president will lay a wreath at the grave of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, central London. |
He is also due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street, pay tribute to the work of Irish health professionals, and meet business leaders and London Mayor Boris Johnson. | He is also due to meet Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street, pay tribute to the work of Irish health professionals, and meet business leaders and London Mayor Boris Johnson. |
The statesman, who came to England to work as a waiter when he was 21, said his visit would be "very important for the relationships between the people of Ireland and UK". | The statesman, who came to England to work as a waiter when he was 21, said his visit would be "very important for the relationships between the people of Ireland and UK". |
He will be joined on the trip by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore. | He will be joined on the trip by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore. |
BBC Ireland correspondent Andy Martin said the trip could not have happened 20 years ago because of "lingering acrimony" between the two countries. | BBC Ireland correspondent Andy Martin said the trip could not have happened 20 years ago because of "lingering acrimony" between the two countries. |
Our correspondent added that "changed entirely three years ago", when the Queen laid a wreath at a memorial to those who died fighting for Ireland's independence. | Our correspondent added that "changed entirely three years ago", when the Queen laid a wreath at a memorial to those who died fighting for Ireland's independence. |
The Queen set another historic precedent two years ago when she shook hands with Mr McGuinness during a trip to Belfast. | The Queen set another historic precedent two years ago when she shook hands with Mr McGuinness during a trip to Belfast. |
Conor Murphy, a Sinn Fein MP and former IRA member, said the president's visit was a "symbolically significant step" on the "journey towards reconciliation and better relationships". | Conor Murphy, a Sinn Fein MP and former IRA member, said the president's visit was a "symbolically significant step" on the "journey towards reconciliation and better relationships". |
But in a sign of the tensions caused by Sinn Fein's participation in some of the events, Stephen Gault - whose father was killed by an IRA bomb in 1987 - accused republicans of trying to "airbrush" history. | But in a sign of the tensions caused by Sinn Fein's participation in some of the events, Stephen Gault - whose father was killed by an IRA bomb in 1987 - accused republicans of trying to "airbrush" history. |
"How can I forgive somebody who hasn't turned around and asked for my forgiveness?" he said of Mr McGuinness on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "How can I forgive somebody who hasn't turned around and asked for my forgiveness?" he said of Mr McGuinness on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
For centuries Ireland was under British or English rule and the more recent troubles can be traced back to the partition of the country. | For centuries Ireland was under British or English rule and the more recent troubles can be traced back to the partition of the country. |
Ireland won independence in 1921 following a civil war and guerrilla campaign against British forces. | Ireland won independence in 1921 following a civil war and guerrilla campaign against British forces. |
But six counties were kept under British control, creating Northern Ireland. | But six counties were kept under British control, creating Northern Ireland. |
President Higgins said there were "a lot of very difficult memories" and that it would be wrong to "wipe the slate clean". | President Higgins said there were "a lot of very difficult memories" and that it would be wrong to "wipe the slate clean". |
Asked about the Northern Irish peace process, Mr Higgins acknowledged: "There is very significant work to do. | Asked about the Northern Irish peace process, Mr Higgins acknowledged: "There is very significant work to do. |
"Affecting a kind of amnesia is of no value to you, you are better to honestly deal with our facts that are standing behind you as shadows. | "Affecting a kind of amnesia is of no value to you, you are better to honestly deal with our facts that are standing behind you as shadows. |
"How could I say to any family whose family member might be in a wheelchair or somebody who is dead, you must put it behind you?" | "How could I say to any family whose family member might be in a wheelchair or somebody who is dead, you must put it behind you?" |
Meanwhile Peter Hain - Northern Ireland secretary from 2005 to 2007 - suggested there should be no more prosecutions for offences committed before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. | |
He said his proposal was not an "amnesty", but "perhaps some special judicial process" where people could come forward and admit crimes but not be sentenced. | |
Mr Hain said the state visit by Mr Higgins was "hugely significant" and would have been "unthinkable" just five years ago due to the "troubled and tangled" history between the countries. | |
Mr Higgins has been a stalwart of Irish public life, as a politician, poet and the subject of songs. | Mr Higgins has been a stalwart of Irish public life, as a politician, poet and the subject of songs. |
In an interview with the BBC's Fergal Keane on the eve of the visit, the president was asked if he would bring a gift for the Queen. | In an interview with the BBC's Fergal Keane on the eve of the visit, the president was asked if he would bring a gift for the Queen. |
"Oh yes," he said. "Something equine, something cultural. The warmth around this visit has been tremendous." | "Oh yes," he said. "Something equine, something cultural. The warmth around this visit has been tremendous." |
The president and his wife Sabina are expected to fly back to Dublin on Friday afternoon after a week of engagements. | The president and his wife Sabina are expected to fly back to Dublin on Friday afternoon after a week of engagements. |