Some 10,000 people gathered in Bellaghy, County Derry for Sinn Fein’s annual hunger strike commemoration.

Former prisoners and relatives of the hunger strikers were among those at the rally to commemorate the deaths of 10 republican prisoners in the 1981 protest over political status at Long Kesh in County Antrim.

Dozens of bands led a pageant parade through the village with leading Sinn Fein figures, including Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, in attendance.

The following is the full prepared text of Martin McGuinness’s address.