Brighton & Hove Albion star Shane Duffy slammed by outraged fans in bombed city for praising IRA general Martin McGuinness
BRIGHTON and Ireland defender Shane Duffy has been slammed for praising Martin McGuinness - after the city was targeted in a bomb attack.
He tweeted the former IRA chief was a "hero" following his death yesterday but some Brighton fans turned against him due to a hotel bombing in the 1980s, attributed to the group.
McGuinness died aged 66 in Londonderry's Altnagevin hospital surrounded by his friends and family.
The Sinn Féin chief is understood to have been suffering from a rare heart condition.
McGuinness, a key figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, died just two months after he stepped down as deputy first minister.
Duffy, from Derry, who plays for Brighton & Hove Albion, tweeted yesterday morning: "More tragic news this morning, RIP Martin McGuinness a true hero for many off us god bless your family and close ones #ireland."
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However his comment did not go down well with all residents of the south coast city, which saw a hotel bombed in 1984 which the IRA claimed responsibility for the next day. Five people died.
One person wrote: "A hero... bloods on his hands."
Another added: "You play for Brighton, the IRA planted a bomb there killing 5 people. He was part of that bombing yet you're praising him."
This was followed with: "Who do you play for? Oh yeah Brighton the scene of a bombing attack orchestrated by him."
Duffy defended what he said as he later tweeted he would "always stand by what and who I support".
He received support from others who wrote McGuinness was a "true legend of a man" and "a great Irishman, if not the greatest ever".
Another footballer, Ireland international James McClean, called McGuinness a “hero” who had done “so much” for the freedom of Irish people.
Paying tribute to the ex-IRA chief of staff, the professional footballer said he would always remember the late 66-year-old as “above all a great man” – despite the heavy criticism that McGuinness has faced in the hours after his death.
In a tribute posted on Instagram, the star wrote that he had a “heavy heart” after hearing the news of the ex-IRA chief of staff’s death, saying that he was determined not to “shy away” in expressing how he felt.
To his supporters he was a peacemaker who was willing to compromise and form ties with the unionists to help bring an end to the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
To others he was a key figure in the IRA terrorist group that slaughtered more than 1,500 people in its conflict with Northern Ireland's unionists and the British government.
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