Irish Republican News · July 27, 2004

INLA man convicted on 1992 killing

An Irish Republican has been convicted of the 1992 killing of a British Army recruiting sergeant after pleading guilty in a court in Nottingham, England.

However, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Joseph Magee, an Irish National Liberation Army Volunteer, could be released within weeks.

“It seems he will serve his sentence in Northern Ireland and will be released according to the provisions of the agreement,” Patrick Upward, QC, told Nottingham Crown Court. “He will be released fairly shortly, I imagine.”

Magee was arrested in the 26 Counties on an extradition warrant in 1993 and an order was granted for him to be sent to Britain to face trial.

But that was overturned in Dublin High Court the following year after he argued that unfair publicity in Britain would prejudice his trial. Magee’s lawyers also argued that the offence was political under Irish law.

He was finally arrested in March this year when he crossed the border into the Six Counties to attend a funeral.

The case of other so-called ‘On the Run’ republicans, who continue to be pursued by thr British legal system despite qualifying for release under the Good Friday Agreement, remains an unresolved and contentious issue. It is expected to be raised in summit talks on the Agreement in England on September.

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