Queen Elizabeth To Meet Ex-IRA Commander

05:45

June 26, 2012

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II leaves St Michael's Roman Catholic church in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, Tuesday. (AP)

The period called "The Troubles" in Northern Ireland claimed thousands of lives, including Lord Mountbatten, the cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.

On Wednesday, the Queen is expected to shake the hand of the man who used to run the Irish Republican Army, which carried out the attack that killed her cousin in 1979.

That man, Martin McGuinness, admits he was an IRA commander. Today, he's first deputy minister of the new government in Northern Ireland, which was established as part of the peace process that ended "The Troubles."

Guest:

Kevin Cullen, Boston Globe columnist

This segment aired on June 26, 2012.