Clinton: 'Finish McGuinness' work'

Mr Clinton delivered a heartfelt speech at the mass at Saint Columbas Church in the Bogside in Londonderry on Thursday.

McGuinness, a former IRA commander turned deputy first minister, died from a rare heart condition aged 66 on Tuesday.

Thousands of people lined the streets of his hometown to pay their respects while a number of high profile figures attended the service.

Among those were former First Ministers Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster, she received an applause and a standing ovation as the unionist took her seat in the chapel.

Mr Clinton recalled Mr McGuinness' "marriage'' to "Gerry'' Adams and compared his own upbringing in Arkansas with Mr McGuinness' early years as one of seven children in a Bogside house with no indoor toilet.

"That's a great political story but I'm the last American president that ever lived in a house without an indoor toilet and it's very much overrated, except for its political value,'' Mr Clinton said.

The former US president also spoke of the close relationship between Mr McGuinness and Ian Paisley.

"Most of the publicity Martin got as a politician was the very absurd notion that he actually got along with Ian Paisley.

"I thought it was great that he got a word in edgeways, I never could,'' he said.

Mr Clinton was introduced to Mr McGuinness' widow Bernie and family before the mass.

After the speech he placed a hand on Mr McGuinness' tricolour-draped coffin as he walked by.

Mr Clinton described the Sinn Fein veteran's life as an "amazing unfolding'' and how after growing up at a time of rage and resentment, he decided to fight discrimination "by whatever means available to the passionate young, including violence''.

Following the requiem mass mourners made their way to the city cemetery for burial where his friend and colleague Michelle O'Neill paid an emotional tribute.

"Martin was a leader to all of us, he was a friend to all of us and he's a huge loss for all of us." She said.

She added: "He was a man of great passion, passion for his family and passion for his country.

"Our hearts are aching, much has been said about Martin over the last few days.

"The depths of the man that he was, the journey that he's been on was discussed by many.

"But we know he wasn't a man of two sides.

"He was one man with one struggle, one aspiration and that's a republic of equals. " She said.