McGuinness denies 'retreat' claims

Martin McGuinness in his office at Rathgael House

Sinn Fein education minister Martin McGuinness has denied claims that he has retreated from his departmental headquarters after loyalists surrounded it with paramilitary and Union Flags.

The statement came amid speculation that the senior republican had moved to a new office at Stormont in Belfast for security reasons.

According to reports in the unionist newspaper, the Newsletter, Mr McGuinness changed his office after flags of the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force and the Union Flag were flown around the building in Bangor, County Down.

The only reason for having a private office close to Stormont is to save an hour of my time every day that I travel, it's to be close to parliament buildings

Martin McGuinness

It was reported that Mr McGuinness, who is from Londonderry, was concerned for his personal safety working at Rathgael House, in a staunchly loyalist area of the town.

The report claimed that when the Sinn Fein minister re-took his desk following the restoration of devolution last week, a crowd of loyalist protestors jeered him outside the premises.

UVF emblems and Ulster and Union Flags were raised on lamp-posts outside the building.

But speaking at Stormont on Thursday, Mr McGuinness said he would still be attending his Rathgael headquarters, but now had a private office at Stormont for the sake of convenience.

"I was in Rathgael House yesterday, and will be in Rathgael House next week. It's my headquarters and it will remain my headquarters," he said.

"I have no problem or difficulty whatsover, travelling to Rathgael House. The only reason for having a private office close to Stormont is to save an hour of my time every day that I travel. It's to be close to parliament buildings.

"That arrangement will work without any difficulty whatsover." Flags debate

Flags have become an emotive issue between unionists and nationalists.

The issue of flying the Union Flag from government buildings was debated by the Northern Ireland Assembly on Tuesday and provoked a bitter dispute between Sinn Fein and the DUP.

Mr McGuinness and Sinn Fein health minister Bairbre de Brun refused to fly the Union Flag on the anniversary of Coronation Day last Friday - just four days after the restoration of the power-sharing executive.

Mr McGuinness said if the Union Flag was going to fly on government buildings, then so should the Irish tricolour.

The move came under fierce criticism from unionists in Northern Ireland.