NIO minister John Spellar has claimed he can no longer comment on his decision to retain Guardsmen James Fisher and Mark Wright in the British army following their conviction for the murder of Belfast youth Peter McBride.
Mr Spellar faced yet more protests over his involvement in the decision to retain the soldiers in the army when he visited Derry yesterday (Thursday).
A small but vociferous group protested at Exchange House in the city centre and at Templemore sports complex when the minister arrived to fulfill engagements. The minister did not speak to the protesters as he entered Exchange House to shouts of "shame". As minister for the armed forces, Mr Spellar was a member of the committee which decided that the two Scots Guards should be allowed to remain in the army after their release from prison where they served a brief part of a life sentence for murder.
In an interview with the Irish News yesterday, the minister said: "This is an issue for the Ministry of Defence. It is not a matter that I can deal with now because I have a different range of responsibilities in government."
Mr Spellar was asked if he would make the same decision again, knowing the depth of nationalist opinion and the belief that his decision undervalued the life of Peter McBride. He replied: "I have to say once again, it is now not a matter I can deal with because it is a matter for the Ministry of Defence."
