BBC documentary showed Kelly unchanged – Allister
23 September 2008
“Last night’s BBC documentary on the Maze escape illustrated just how far Republicans are from downing the sackcloth and ashes once demanded by the DUP. Junior Minister Kelly recalled how – having shot a prison officer in the head – he was concerned about the escape being compromised as a result of the gunshot. Nor did he display any remorse when relating how he had told a member of the prison staff: “You need to know that if you interfere with the escape you will be dealt with swiftly and immediately”.
“Kelly clearly revelled in recalling how he played a leading role in the escape which cost the life of a prison officer. Furthermore, throughout the programme Kelly and the other escapees employed the word “arrest” when describing how they detained the prison officers – implying that they were some sort of quasi police force.
“Now that Kelly supposedly supports the rule of law will he reveal the location of the arms dump in Lurgan where he and the other escaped terrorists hid out for two weeks? Furthermore, will he disclose the identity of the members of the IRA’s self-styled Northern Command who came to see Kelly’s group?
“The programme would have been sickening viewing for the innocent victims of IRA terrorism. It is nauseating to see that Kelly is now a Minister in the government of a country he is still dedicated to destroying while another escapee is chair of Belfast Sinn Fein and gives lectures on his escape.”
Mr Allister went on to criticise the BBC for providing an unbalanced account of what happened:
“The vast majority of the programme was given over to the account provided by the prisoners and they were thus enabled to present the story as some sort of latter day great escape where the prisoners triumphed against an evil system. In reality, of course, the IRA’s murderous operation was anything but noble.”
