Tributes paid to former deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness

Mr McGuinness died early this morning at Derry's Altnagelvin Hospital with his family by his bedside.

In January, the 66-year-old stepped down from politics amid the so-called cash-for-ash scandal which saw DUP leader Arlene Foster come under mounting pressure to resign, he had been diagnosed with a rare heart condition in December.

Mr McGuinness’s resignation triggered a snap election which changed the landscape in Stormont.

He was a former member of the IRA's army council and worked as Sinn Fein's chief negotiator during the peace process. He led Sinn Fein into power-sharing with the DUP in 2007 and served as deputy first minister alongside Ian Paisley, Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams was amongst the first to pay tribute this morning:

A song for Martin McGuinness. I measc Laochra na n-Gael go raibh a anam dílis. https://t.co/7BHhoZWL7p via @youtube
— Gerry Adams (@GerryAdamsSF) March 21, 2017