06/09/2007

Former Sinn Fein MLA Dies

Former Sinn Fein member and paramilitary activist John Kelly has died.

Mr Kelly, who was a provisional IRA activist, spent 15 years behind bars in both Northern and Southern Ireland.

He was a co-defendant in the alleged arms smuggling trial that collapsed with Charles Haughey, who later became Taoiseach.

Mr Kelly, who had a seat on Magherafelt District Council, was elected as a Sinn Fein MLA in the 1998 Assembly election.

After a disagreement with central party policies, he left Sinn Fein and politics.

(SP/KMcA)

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