Sean Kelly Arrest - PSNI, Secretary of State, Sinn Fein and First Minister Challenged
14 February 2013
Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The arrest of Sean Kelly raises serious questions for the PSNI, the Secretary of State, Sinn Fein and the First Minister.
“Firstly, why have the PSNI backed away from original reports that this was a paramilitary-style shooting? The shooting has striking similarities to those carried out by the IRA and other terrorist groups in the past. Surely the arrest of an IRA bomber in connection with the case would tend to collaborate reports that the shooting was paramilitary linked? It is essential that a desire to preserve the political process does not impede the police from placing the blame where it belongs.
“Secondly, the Secretary of State should immediately revoke Kelly’s early release licence. Will she?
“Thirdly, Kelly’s licence was previously revoked in 2005 but he got out following a vocal and high profile campaign by Sinn Fein. A protest was staged outside the offices of HM’s Prison Service which was addressed by a Sinn Fein MLA (see http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/4832 ) while Gerry Kelly nauseatingly praised Sean Kelly’s contribution to the “process of transition from conflict to peace” (see http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/4678). Numerous statements on the issue remain on the Sinn Fein/IRA website to this very day.
“It is incumbent upon Sinn Fein to spell out exactly what their relationship is with Kelly and his status within the party and the Republican movement generally.
“Finally, the First Minister needs to do more than issue statements. The DUP need to pull out of there partnership with Sinn Fein/IRA. Let’s not forget that we heard similar talk follow the murder of Paul Quinn but after a few weeks all was forgotten. This incident cannot be swept under the carpet. Rather the Democratic Unionists need to realise that the time has come to break their Faustian pact with Sean Kelly’s friends.”
