Former US president Bill Clinton and ex-Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson are expected to join thousands of mourners at the funeral of Martin McGuinness in his native Derry.

Irish president Michael D Higgins and his predecessor Mary McAleese will also be at the requiem mass for the Sinn Fein veteran, as will prime minister Enda Kenny.

While former Democratic Unionist leader Mr Robinson is set to be there, by Wednesday evening the party had still not confirmed whether his successor Arlene Foster would attend.

McGuinness: Peace with a history of violence

The service will take place at Long Tower Church in Mr McGuinness' beloved Bogside neighbourhood.

Hours before Mr McGuinness' funeral, the same church will witness the funeral of the popular captain of Derry City FC Ryan McBride, 27, who was found dead in his bed on Sunday.


Mr McGuinness, the former IRA commander turned Northern Ireland peace negotiator, died from a rare heart condition on Tuesday, aged 66.

Criticism and praise for McGuinness approach

Although thousands of supporters have lauded his legacy, his death has drawn a very different response from many victims of the IRA, with some bereaved relatives not prepared to forgive him for his paramilitary past.

:: Martin McGuinness: From guns to government

Mr McGuinness completed an extraordinary political journey from an IRA leader in Derry to sharing power and a remarkable friendship with his erstwhile foe, DUP leader Dr Ian Paisley.

McGuinness' coffin carried through streets

He also struck up a warm relationship with the Queen, whom he praised for her contribution to peace.

Mr McGuinness's last major act as a politician was to pull down the powersharing executive at Stormont when he resigned as deputy first minister in January in protest at the DUP's handling of a green energy scandal.