Martin McGuinness – 1950-2017 Former IRA chief of staff and life-long republican who became a Sinn Féin politician, peace negotiator and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland May 23, 1950: James Martin Pacelli McGuinness born in Derry’s Bogside in Northern Ireland 1965: Leaves school without any qualifications, works as butcher’s assistant 1969: British government deploys Army to Northern Ireland following sectarian clashes between Catholics and Protestants 1970s: Becomes active in civil rights movement with Gerry Adams (below left). Joins Irish Republican Army (IRA), paramilitary group seeking to remove Northern Ireland from UK and form united Ireland 1972: McGuinness is second-in-command of Derry Brigade of Provisional IRA during Bloody Sunday, when 14 civil rights protesters are killed by British troops 1973: Sentenced to six months in prison after being caught with explosives and nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition 1974: Leaves IRA. Year-long truce begins in December, enabling “line of communication” with British government Aug 29, 1979: Queen’s cousin, Lord Louis Mountbatten, his grandson and local boy killed by IRA bomb while on holiday in Republic of Ireland. Hours later, IRA bombs kill 18 soldiers at Warrenpoint, Co. Down 1980-81: McGuinness involved in contact with British government 1982: Loses election in Derry as Sinn Féin candidate to Northern Ireland Assembly Oct 1984: Provisional IRA assassination attempt against Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet at Grand Hotel, Brighton. Five people killed, 31 injured 1993: McGuinness signals IRA’s desire to end armed campaign – this leads to Downing Street Declaration, affirming self-determination to people of Ireland 1996 onwards: Acts as Sinn Féin’s chief negotiator in peace talks between political parties in Northern Ireland and British and Irish governments May 1997: McGuinness elected to British parliament as MP for Mid Ulster (inset above). Abiding by Sinn Féin policy he refuses to take his seat or swear oath of allegiance to the Queen Apr 10, 1998: Good Friday Agreement signed in Belfast. Accord paves way for devolution through power-sharing coalition of unionists and nationalists at Stormont Dec 1999-Oct 2002: McGuinness serves as Minister for Education in Northern Ireland Assembly until it collapses during Stormontgate – alleged IRA spy ring at Stormont Jul 2005: IRA formally orders end to armed campaign 2006: McGuinness leads negotiations resulting in St. Andrew’s Agreement and restoration of Northern Ireland Assembly May 2007: McGuinness becomes Deputy First Minister of N. Ireland alongside former foe Ian Paisley. Pair, nicknamed the Chuckle Brothers, form unlikely alliance Jun 2012: Queen Elizabeth and McGuinness meet for first time and shake hands in public Jan 2017: Resigns as Deputy First Minister in protest against First Minister Arlene Foster’s handling of energy scandal Mar 21: Martin McGuinness dies after short illness in Derry’s Altnagelvin hospital Pictures: Associated Press, main picture by Peter Morrison/AP, Getty Images © GRAPHIC NEWS