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13/05/2002
Mother pens letter to Queen over son’s killers
The mother of a Belfast teenager shot dead by two soldiers has urged the Queen to explain why they have been allowed to remain in the British army.
Scots Guardsmen Mark Wright and James Fisher each served six years of a life sentence for the murder of her son Peter McBride in 1992.
In an open letter to the Queen published in today’s Irish News, Jean McBride questions why both men, are allowed to remain in the Army despite being convicted of his murder.
The Queen, who is currently on a tour of the province, is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Scots Guards and the Irish Guards regiments.
In the letter Mrs McBride asks: “Is it a source of pride to be Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment which harbours the convicted murderers of my son?”
The letter has prompted SDLP leader Mark Durkan to write to Prime Minister Tony Blair highlighting the case.
He said: “Seeing the soldiers given early release was difficult to accept. But it is outrageous that the soldiers have been accepted back into the army.
“I have written to Tony Blair raising the injustice done to the Mc Brides. It is astonishing that the British Army would want to have convicted murderers and liars in its ranks. I have asked the Prime Minister what message this sends out about the value that the British Government places on civilian life in Northern Ireland.
“The SDLP believes that murder is murder. It doesn’t matter who carried it out-it should be treated equally seriously. The handling of the Mc Bride case calls this into question and offends against basic standards of justice and human rights.”
(AMcE)
Scots Guardsmen Mark Wright and James Fisher each served six years of a life sentence for the murder of her son Peter McBride in 1992.
In an open letter to the Queen published in today’s Irish News, Jean McBride questions why both men, are allowed to remain in the Army despite being convicted of his murder.
The Queen, who is currently on a tour of the province, is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Scots Guards and the Irish Guards regiments.
In the letter Mrs McBride asks: “Is it a source of pride to be Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment which harbours the convicted murderers of my son?”
The letter has prompted SDLP leader Mark Durkan to write to Prime Minister Tony Blair highlighting the case.
He said: “Seeing the soldiers given early release was difficult to accept. But it is outrageous that the soldiers have been accepted back into the army.
“I have written to Tony Blair raising the injustice done to the Mc Brides. It is astonishing that the British Army would want to have convicted murderers and liars in its ranks. I have asked the Prime Minister what message this sends out about the value that the British Government places on civilian life in Northern Ireland.
“The SDLP believes that murder is murder. It doesn’t matter who carried it out-it should be treated equally seriously. The handling of the Mc Bride case calls this into question and offends against basic standards of justice and human rights.”
(AMcE)
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