Republican News · Thursday 13 February 1997

[An Phoblacht]

Early release sought for British soldiers

By Mick Naughton.

At an emotive Belfast press conference on Tuesday 11 February the mother of murdered nationalist Peter McBride (18), when asked were there any similarities between her son's killers - Scots Guards Mark Wright and James Fisher - and paratrooper Lee Clegg, sighed and replied, ``yes, special release. I do not expect anything other than their release.''

Jean McBride's only son Peter was shot in the back by the British soldiers on the New Lodge Road in North Belfast in September 1992.

The mothers of the two killers were holding a press conference at the same time in Edinburgh, Scotland. Their message was that the soldiers ``were not actually criminals'' and were ``doing their duty'' when they killed the unarmed teenager.

Both soldiers were sentenced to life two years ago and are arguing that they be released early as were British soldiers Ian Thain (who murdered Thomas `Kidso' Reilly in Belfast in 1984) and Lee Clegg who murdered Karen Reilly.

Fisher and Wright's appeals were dismissed in 1995 but the life sentence review board agreed to accelerate the review process after an application last December to the Northern Ireland Office to consider their release within the timeframe set in the Thain case. Its recommendation is to be forwarded to Patrick Mayhew at the NIO soon.

The McBride family held the press conference to challenge the campaign launched by Westminster MPs and former high ranking officers from the Scots Guards who are calling for the soldiers' release.

Fr Des Wilson, who chaired the press conference, said, ``Never once have they apologised or showed any remorse, which is actually a component of the life review board which they are now seeking to authorise their release.''.

Last Thursday 13 February an `early day' motion was lodged at Westminster, signed by 30 British MPs, calling for the two soldiers' early release.

One Tory MP said, ``As far as we are concerned these two individuals are now facing a great injustice.''

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