A former IRA commander caught by the SAS in April 1986 near Rosslea as he attempted to plant a landmine has said he would be willing to meet The Queen.
Sean Lynch who will contest next week’s election in a bid to hold onto a seat for Sinn Fein has criticised the Democratic Unionist Party for “the lack of respect” he says it has shown to his party.
He praised former Sinn Fein leader in Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness for reaching out to unionists during his time as deputy first minister at Stormont.
When asked what he has done to reach out to unionists, the former Assembly Member said: “There are some people who live beside me who are Protestants, some people who come to my office.”
Asked to specifically name something he has done to reach out, he said: “I haven’t said anything which has been offensive to them. I was recently at a talk at the Collegiate.”
When Mr. McGuinness greeted The Queen it was widely seen as a powerful signal of peace building. Asked if he would do the same should The Queen visit Fermanagh again, Mr. Lynch told Election Files: “I respect that The Queen is the head of state in Britain. Martin greeted her so what would be wrong with me? I would greet her as the head of state of England.”
The one time IRA man accepted that such a greeting “could not have been done before.” 
“We have progress,” he said, adding: “I know of some Protestants who vote for me.”
Mr. Lynch will be joined on the Sinn Fein ticket by Michelle Gildernew and Jemma Dolan.