The family of a teenager shot dead by the British Army on Bloody Sunday has
denounced the controversial 'on the runs' legislation as "diabolical and
scandalous" and has demanded its renegotiation.
There has been heavy criticism of the legislation from unionists but John
Kelly said many nationalists were incensed that it offered an effective
amnesty to security force members who had killed Catholics.
He called on all nationalist politicians to oppose the British government
legislation which was debated in the House of Commons last week. The SDLP is
strongly against it. Sinn Féin says security force killers shouldn't have an
amnesty, but it remains the only Northern party supporting the legislation.
Nationalist critics of the law say while it will allow for the return of 30
or 40 'on the run' IRA members, it will deny any chances of justice to the
families of around 350 people killed by the British Army, RUC and UDR,
during the Troubles.
Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael, was shot dead by British
paratroopers in 1972, said: "Those who committed murder and those in the
British establishment who organised and approved it, must have a big smile
on their face.
"They can now walk away without repercussions. They will never have to
appear in court. All they will be required to do is meet their solicitor,
sign a license, and then they can walk off, laughing at us."
Kelly said it wrongly appeared that only unionist grassroots opposed the
legislation. "That perception makes me very angry because the majority of
families who will lose out are those of nationalists murdered by the state.
"The Saville inquiry (on Bloody Sunday) established that Soldier F killed my
brother. My dreams of seeing him prosecuted and jailed are now over. They
have ripped justice from under us. It will be the same for the families of
Rosemary Nelson and Robert Hamill.
"This grotesque piece of legislation should be opposed by all nationalist
parties and right-thinking people." The SDLP accused Sinn Féin of knowingly
"selling out" bereaved families and said the party must immediately withdraw
support for the legislation.
Sinn Féin accused the SDLP of "telling lies" and said it hadn't prior
knowledge of the British government's plans. The party said security force
killers should not be free from prosecution, but it continues to support the
OTR legislation.
Liam Wray, whose brother Jim (22) was shot dead on Bloody Sunday said
changes must be made to the legislation with a time-limit set for security
force killers to come forward. Those who didn't should be subject to the
full rigours of the law. Wray said his family recognised security force
killers must be treated the same as on the run paramilitaries.
