Council opens Athlone book of condolence for Martin McGuinness

Westmeath County Council has opened books of condolence for the late Martin McGuinness at its civic offices in Athlone and Mullingar.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to sign the books during office hours until 5pm tomorrow (Friday).

The prominent Sinn Fein politician and former Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland died in the early hours of Tuesday morning, aged 66.

A former IRA commander, he ran as a candidate for the presidency of Ireland in 2011.

During this campaign, Mr McGuinness was confronted in Athlone's Golden Island Shopping Centre by Moate man David Kelly, the eldest son of Private Patrick Kelly, who was killed by the IRA in 1983.

The funeral of Mr McGuinness will take place in his native Derry today.

Among those attending the funeral will be the President, Michael D Higgins, the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, DUP leader Arlene Foster, former US president Bill Clinton, and former British prime minister Tony Blair.