Blair snub to McBride family

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has refused to meet the family of murdered Belfast teenager Peter McBride.

Representatives for the family received confirmation that the the British Prime Minister is not prepared to meet with Jean McBride or any member of her family.

The McBride family has been involved in a campaign to have the two British soldiers, convicted of the September 1992 murder of Peter, dismissed from the British army.

The 18-year-old was shot in the back, close to his west Belfast home by two British soldiers, Mark Wright and James Fisher, who were later convicted of his murder.

Both men were released from prison in 1998 and readmitted to the British Army where they remain to this day.

Confirmation of the Downing Street snub to the McBride family comes after it emerged almost 50 British MPs have signed an early day motion calling for convicted rapists and murders to be kicked out of the British Army.

Peter McBride’s sister Kelly said her family was disappointed at Mr Blair’s refusal to meet them.

“When it comes to families who have lost loved ones, the decision to grant a meeting with the Prime Minister appears to depend on who did the killing and not who was killed. I would call on both Sinn Fein and the SDLP to press for the removal of the two soldiers who murdered my brother. The Prime Minister has a very direct responsibility on this case since the two soldiers who murdered Peter remain in his armed forces. He could end our misery today if he was so minded by simply directing the MOD to discharge convicted murderers from his armed forces.”

North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly again expressed his support for the McBride family.

“It’s an absolute disgrace that Tony Blair is refusing to meet with the McBride family when it is his government that continues to employ Wright and Fisher in the British Army. Sinn Fein will continue to support in every and any way the McBride family in their demand for justice.”

Urgent Appeal