Killer Guards freed
by Sean O'Tuama
At a press conference in West Belfast on Wednesday the family of
Peter McBride slammed the release earlier that morning of the two
Scots Guards who killed him.
The Guards, James Wright and Mark Fisher, were convicted of the
September 1992 murder of the north Belfast teenager who they shot
in the back.
SF Assembly member Gerry Kelly said the decision to release the
Guards was ``evidence of the arrogant, colonial mentality which
has constantly treated Irish people as second class. The British
government ignored the structures set up under the Good Friday
document, including the Prisoner Commission, and followed the
pattern of Thain and Clegg by unilaterally releasing these two
British soldiers.''
Peter's family were informed of the releases at 8.15am, fifteen
minutes after the killers had been freed.
Billy McBride, Peter's uncle, confirmed that at a meeting between
themselves, the Pat Finucane Centre and Mo Mowlam in July she
assured them that the Guards ``would not be among the first wave
of prisoner releases'' under the Good Friday document. Billy said,
``she hasn't kept her promise. She lied.'' He added that the family
were ``totally disgusted'' at the decision particularly as the
releases come in the week of the anniversary of Peter's killing.
He said the timing showed ``a total disregard to the family's
feelings'' and indicated that ``we've no rights in this country.''
The releases were ``a kick in the teeth to the family and the
wider community.''
Kelly, Peter's sister, clearly distraught, said the release of
the guards made it seem as if ``Peter's life meant nothing.''
Billy announced that the Relatives for Justice (RFJ) group would
be raising the case with President Clinton when they meet him
today (Thursday) as this case illustrated how the ``victims of
state violence get no consideration whatsoever.''
RFJ spokesperson Eilish McCabe expressed anger at the releases
and condemned Mowlam for breaking her word to the McBride family
``Are the McBride family in some way not deserving of the
sensitivity that she talked about in relation to victims
families? Are they to be forgotten like so many families who have
lost loved ones at the hands of the state?'' Ms McCabe went on to
urge Mowlam to facilitate a meeting between Peter's family and
President Clinton during his visit to the Six Counties.
Billy McBride confirmed that the family would still be pushing
for the Guards to be dismissed from the British Army and if they
are posted to Germany, as has been suggested, the family will
picket the base ``to inform the locals that they have killers in
their midst.''
Peter McBride, the father of the murdered teenager, called on the
Guards to donate to the Northern Ireland Hospice the six years of
army back pay they are now due. He also stated that the family
would be seeking legal advice on what course of action was still
open to them.
Jean McBride, Peter's mother, was ``devastated'' by the news of the
releases and was unable to attend the press conference or make
any direct comment.
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