Latest news with #GerryKelly
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Convicted soldiers' return to service showed it was ‘all right to kill a Paddy', Sinn Féin figure complained
The British army's decision to readmit two soldiers convicted for murder showed it was 'all right to kill a Paddy', a senior Sinn Féin figure furiously complained in 2000. Eighteen-year-old Peter McBride was shot in the back by Scots guardsmen Mark Wright and James Fisher in 1992 after he ran away from an army patrol that had searched his home in north Belfast . The two soldiers were convicted of murder in 1995 and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, they served only three years before they were given early release under the 1998 Belfast Agreement . Later, a British army board ruled they could return to military service, but this decision was overturned by a British court. A second board then ruled they could continue as soldiers, but this decision was kept secret for nearly two years. READ MORE Once it became public, it provoked a public outcry. Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly complained furiously in a phone call with the Northern Ireland Office's political director, Bill Jeffrey. In a note of Mr Kelly's remarks later, Mr Jeffrey quoted him as saying: 'The decision was a disgrace and had been greeted with incredulity, even by people who had expected nothing of the British. 'The army dismissed large numbers of soldiers every year for smoking dope, but it was all right to kill a Paddy. We were dragging our heels over OTRs (on-the-runs), but murderers were taken back into the British army,' he said. Denying involvement, Mr Jeffrey said the British army operated independently 'in matters of this kind'. Replying, Mr Kelly said: 'In that case, the prime minister should take the matter out of their hands.' Mr Kelly remains a Sinn Féin Assembly member for North Belfast. In 1983, Mr Kelly – a convicted IRA bomber – was part of a mass breakout of prisoners from the Maze/Long Kesh prison outside Belfast, during which one prison officer died and another was shot. He is a former hunger striker and was part of Sinn Féin's negotiating team during the years leading up to the Belfast Agreement.
ITV News
05-06-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Sinn Féin challenges PSNI over ‘reluctance' to blame paramilitaries for North Belfast homes' attacks
The police say they have conflicting reports about the involvement of paramilitaries in attacks on the homes of a number of families in north Belfast. The incidents were raised at a meeting of the policing board on Thursday where Sinn Féin suggested there was a reluctance by the PSNI to say paramilitaries were present. Sinn Fein Policing Board member Gerry Kelly said it almost seemed like there was an 'avoidance' of blaming terrorist groups, after an officer said there had been conflicting reports over their involvement. There was widespread political condemnation following the attacks on homes in May, when masonry was thrown at a number of properties in Annalee Street and Alloa Street. Clanmil Housing Association, which operates the housing scheme in the area, said the attacks were a 'sectarian-motivated hate crime', and police have said they have stepped up patrols in the area. Alliance Party member Nuala McAllister asked about the policing response to the attacks. She said: 'A number of us political representatives have met with these families and sat with them and they have been understandably very upset and scared. 'We would like to think that it is 2025, this long after the Good Friday Agreement and actually we could have families living in shared neighbourhoods welcomed by all. 'There is a minority who are frightening others for the aim to get them to move out of their area and it is not acceptable.' Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said he wanted to publicly condemn the 'hate-filled abhorrent behaviour' last month. He said: 'That day we saw attacks on houses, windows broken and clearly a sectarian attempt to intimidate people out of their homes. 'That has no place in our society and should not be tolerated. We will bring all of our investigative powers to bring people to justice.' He said the police investigation is continuing and a man had been charged over damage to properties. Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said there are 'significant tensions in the area primarily around the issue around housing'. He added: 'What we are picking up in terms of local information, and there has been some conflicting reporting, some of that reporting indicated persons linked to paramilitary groups have been involved in the activity, however other reports indicate that the attacks have stemmed from a much more community level, rather than an organisation. 'That is similar to what we saw around August last year and the disorder as well. We will continue to monitor that situation.' Mr Kelly responded: 'I find it quite hard to begin to accept that when a number of houses are done, when it is co-ordinated, when there was a number of people in masks standing around for two hours before it and all this information was given to the police, that at this stage it almost seems like an avoidance of saying there was paramilitary involvement here. 'To say that there is tension around housing doesn't say it. This is sectarianism.' Mr Kelly added: 'There seems to be a reluctance in these things, not just this, if it is paramilitary, of let's not say it is paramilitary and I don't know what the fear is. 'I am certain and everybody in that area is certain it is paramilitary.' The Sinn Fein representative added: 'People need to know that you are not trying to avoid saying what this is really about because they want to know if they are safe going back in there, is there an organisation which is going to attack them again.' Mr Beck said: 'From a factual basis I have indicated what information we have at this moment in time and there are conflicts around that. 'But that does include that there are indications that there were persons involved who were linked to terrorist and paramilitary organisations as well.' Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.
The Independent
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Sinn Fein urged to reflect on role played by Provisional IRA during Troubles
Sinn Fein have been urged by the DUP to reflect on the role played by the Provisional IRA during Northern Ireland's troubled past. It came during a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday which focused on issues faced by police in their role dealing with legacy. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher outlined his concerns around the costs in terms of financial and staffing resources, but also reputational damage because they had not been funded sufficiently to deal with legacy. He urged more resources as well as a focus on victims, and that an approach to dealing with the past be agreed. Dealing with the past was not included in the 1998 Belfast /Good Friday Agreement, and subsequent deals, including the Stormont House accord in 2014, were not progressed. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly responded to Mr Boutcher, hailing what he said seemed to be a 'new philosophy of approach' and potentially a 'watershed moment'. 'I have sat in front of many chief constables and you're the first chief constable who has said we need to change this in a radical way,' he said. Mr Kelly also said that while 'nothing is perfect', the Stormont House Agreement saw most of the parties and the British and Irish governments in agreement. He blamed the UK for 'pulling out' of that agreement. But DUP MLA Trevor Clarke said many in the unionist community felt 'they were let down particularly by Sinn Fein and others', and in reference to the party's historic relationship with the Provisional IRA, said they were 'the biggest cause of victims in Northern Ireland'. 'It seems ironic listening to Gerry speak at the minute that there is no reflection on what part Sinn Fein and the IRA played during the Troubles,' he said. 'I know it's not Stormont, it's not a political debating chamber but I think it has to be said that if everyone is to be honest and everyone wants to be honest, then everyone should be honest and should all come to the table honest in terms of the parts that they played during the Troubles, as opposed to working on the small numbers that the security forces were involved in. 'I certainly want to put on record our party's concerns around the process, sympathies with police in how they deal with it, but there is a section of the community will never be satisfied unless the victim makers stand in the courts and actually own up to their part as well.'
South Wales Guardian
08-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Sinn Fein urged to reflect on role played by Provisional IRA during Troubles
It came during a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday which focused on issues faced by police in their role dealing with legacy. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher outlined his concerns around the costs in terms of financial and staffing resources, but also reputational damage because they had not been funded sufficiently to deal with legacy. He urged more resources as well as a focus on victims, and that an approach to dealing with the past be agreed. Dealing with the past was not included in the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and subsequent deals, including the Stormont House accord in 2014, were not progressed. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly responded to Mr Boutcher, hailing what he said seemed to be a 'new philosophy of approach' and potentially a 'watershed moment'. 'I have sat in front of many chief constables and you're the first chief constable who has said we need to change this in a radical way,' he said. Mr Kelly also said that while 'nothing is perfect', the Stormont House Agreement saw most of the parties and the British and Irish governments in agreement. He blamed the UK for 'pulling out' of that agreement. But DUP MLA Trevor Clarke said many in the unionist community felt 'they were let down particularly by Sinn Fein and others', and in reference to the party's historic relationship with the Provisional IRA, said they were 'the biggest cause of victims in Northern Ireland'. 'It seems ironic listening to Gerry speak at the minute that there is no reflection on what part Sinn Fein and the IRA played during the Troubles,' he said. 'I know it's not Stormont, it's not a political debating chamber but I think it has to be said that if everyone is to be honest and everyone wants to be honest, then everyone should be honest and should all come to the table honest in terms of the parts that they played during the Troubles, as opposed to working on the small numbers that the security forces were involved in. 'I certainly want to put on record our party's concerns around the process, sympathies with police in how they deal with it, but there is a section of the community will never be satisfied unless the victim makers stand in the courts and actually own up to their part as well.'
Belfast Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Sinn Fein urged to reflect on role played by Provisional IRA during Troubles
It came during a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday which focused on issues faced by police in their role dealing with legacy. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher outlined his concerns around the costs in terms of financial and staffing resources, but also reputational damage because they had not been funded sufficiently to deal with legacy. He urged more resources as well as a focus on victims, and that an approach to dealing with the past be agreed. Dealing with the past was not included in the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, and subsequent deals, including the Stormont House accord in 2014, were not progressed. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly responded to Mr Boutcher, hailing what he said seemed to be a 'new philosophy of approach' and potentially a 'watershed moment'. 'I have sat in front of many chief constables and you're the first chief constable who has said we need to change this in a radical way,' he said. Mr Kelly also said that while 'nothing is perfect', the Stormont House Agreement saw most of the parties and the British and Irish governments in agreement. He blamed the UK for 'pulling out' of that agreement. But DUP MLA Trevor Clarke said many in the unionist community felt 'they were let down particularly by Sinn Fein and others', and in reference to the party's historic relationship with the Provisional IRA, said they were 'the biggest cause of victims in Northern Ireland'. 'It seems ironic listening to Gerry speak at the minute that there is no reflection on what part Sinn Fein and the IRA played during the Troubles,' he said. 'I know it's not Stormont, it's not a political debating chamber but I think it has to be said that if everyone is to be honest and everyone wants to be honest, then everyone should be honest and should all come to the table honest in terms of the parts that they played during the Troubles, as opposed to working on the small numbers that the security forces were involved in. 'I certainly want to put on record our party's concerns around the process, sympathies with police in how they deal with it, but there is a section of the community will never be satisfied unless the victim makers stand in the courts and actually own up to their part as well.'
