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Former Old Bailey bomber Gerry Kelly admits receiving royal pardon Former Old Bailey bomber Gerry Kelly admits receiving royal pardon
(about 4 hours later)
Gerry Kelly, the IRA Old Bailey bomber turned Stormont minister, has confirmed that he received a “royal prerogative of mercy” after escaping from the Maze prison and being re-arrested in Europe in the 1980s.Gerry Kelly, the IRA Old Bailey bomber turned Stormont minister, has confirmed that he received a “royal prerogative of mercy” after escaping from the Maze prison and being re-arrested in Europe in the 1980s.
The admission by the senior Sinn Fein figure came on Tuesday during a live radio debate on the issue of the IRA “On the Runs” scheme, which a powerful Westminster committee earlier in the day branded an affront to justice. The admission by the senior Sinn Féin figure came on Tuesday during a live radio debate on the issue of the IRA “on-the-run” scheme, which a powerful Westminster committee earlier in the day branded an affront to justice.
Asked by the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice leader, Jim Allister, on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme if he had ever received a royal pardon letter from the Queen, Kelly said: “Actually I have, but not as an ‘On the Run’ ... I was arrested in Holland and the Dutch quashed all my sentences, and the British agreed to that to get me back here. Yes, it was after an escape, but it wasn’t a letter to do with ‘On the Runs’ or with this scheme at all.” Asked by the hardline Traditional Unionist Voice leader, Jim Allister, on BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme if he had ever received a royal pardon letter from the Queen, Kelly said: “Actually I have, but not as an on-the-run ... I was arrested in Holland and the Dutch quashed all my sentences, and the British agreed to that to get me back here. Yes, it was after an escape, but it wasn’t a letter to do withon-the-runs or with this scheme at all.”
Kelly continued: “The Dutch said they would not extradite me unless the British quashed the sentences. Now it was up to the British to quash the sentences whatever way they wanted to quash them. If they chose to produce a prerogative then that’s the way they did.Kelly continued: “The Dutch said they would not extradite me unless the British quashed the sentences. Now it was up to the British to quash the sentences whatever way they wanted to quash them. If they chose to produce a prerogative then that’s the way they did.
“I don’t care what ... was done. The point was I came back to Ireland as a remand prisoner as opposed to doing this length of sentence because the Dutch, their courts, came to the conclusion that it was not just.”“I don’t care what ... was done. The point was I came back to Ireland as a remand prisoner as opposed to doing this length of sentence because the Dutch, their courts, came to the conclusion that it was not just.”
Related: IRA fugitives granted 'possibly unlawful' amnesty linked to 1980s atrocitiesRelated: IRA fugitives granted 'possibly unlawful' amnesty linked to 1980s atrocities
Allister had earlier claimed in the Stormont parliament that a prominent republican figure inside the chamber had benefited from a royal pardon – a broad hint towards Kelly.Allister had earlier claimed in the Stormont parliament that a prominent republican figure inside the chamber had benefited from a royal pardon – a broad hint towards Kelly.
He said this was the first time information about Kelly’s royal pardon had ever been made public and it exposed a “heart of darkness” in the centre of the peace process.He said this was the first time information about Kelly’s royal pardon had ever been made public and it exposed a “heart of darkness” in the centre of the peace process.
Kelly was jailed for his part in the Old Bailey bombing in 1973, which was the first major Provisional IRA attack in England during the Troubles. Ten years later, he escaped with dozens of other republican prisoners from the Maze maximum security jail outside Belfast. He was re-arrested with fellow Belfast IRA man Brendan McFarlane three years later and extradited back to Northern Ireland.Kelly was jailed for his part in the Old Bailey bombing in 1973, which was the first major Provisional IRA attack in England during the Troubles. Ten years later, he escaped with dozens of other republican prisoners from the Maze maximum security jail outside Belfast. He was re-arrested with fellow Belfast IRA man Brendan McFarlane three years later and extradited back to Northern Ireland.
As well as severely criticising Tony Blair’s government for operating a secret deal to allow IRA fugitives back into the UK as part of a peace process deal with Sinn Fein, the Northern Ireland affairs committee excoriated Theresa Villiers, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, for refusing to name any republicans who had been granted royal pardons as well. Villiers’ stonewalling was described by the MPs as “wholly unacceptable”. As well as severely criticising Tony Blair’s government for operating a secret deal to allow IRA fugitives back into the UK as part of a peace process deal with Sinn Féin, the Northern Ireland affairs committee excoriated Theresa Villiers, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland, for refusing to name any republicans who had been granted royal pardons as well. Villiers’ stonewalling was described by the MPs as “wholly unacceptable”.
Six IRA fugitives given “get-out-of-jail” cards under the controversial scheme, which was described by the parliamentary committee as questionably lawful, are connected to two of the most notorious atrocities of the Northern Ireland Troubles.Six IRA fugitives given “get-out-of-jail” cards under the controversial scheme, which was described by the parliamentary committee as questionably lawful, are connected to two of the most notorious atrocities of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
The six are suspects in the Harrods bomb, which killed six people outside the Knightsbridge department store, in London, in 1983 and the Enniskillen bombing in Co. Fermanagh four years later, in which 11 local Protestants died, the Guardian has learned. The six are suspects in the Harrods bomb, which killed six people outside the Knightsbridge department store in London, in 1983 and the Enniskillen bombing in Co. Fermanagh four years later, in which 11 local Protestants died, the Guardian has learned.
Security sources in Northern Ireland say one of the six, who is wanted for questioning over the 1987 Poppy Day explosion in Enniskillen, is at present living in England under a new identity.Security sources in Northern Ireland say one of the six, who is wanted for questioning over the 1987 Poppy Day explosion in Enniskillen, is at present living in England under a new identity.
The six were among almost 100 IRA activists who were given “letters of assurance” from Blair’s government.The six were among almost 100 IRA activists who were given “letters of assurance” from Blair’s government.
The republican party petitioned the then Labour government to introduce the scheme so that 95 republicans wanted for almost 300 crimes including murder would no longer fear arrest and conviction if they returned to Northern Ireland or Britain.The republican party petitioned the then Labour government to introduce the scheme so that 95 republicans wanted for almost 300 crimes including murder would no longer fear arrest and conviction if they returned to Northern Ireland or Britain.
The committee’s report into the On the Run scheme criticised a number of figures and institutions, including the Northern Ireland Office, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Blair’s government for the way it was run and their roles in relation to it. It accused both the then government and the NIO of cloaking the scheme in secrecy and discriminating against the rest of Northern Irish society just to placate one party – Sinn Fein. The committee’s report into the on-the-run scheme criticised a number of figures and institutions, including the Northern Ireland Office, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Blair’s government for the way it was run and their roles in relation to it. It accused both the then government and the NIO of cloaking the scheme in secrecy and discriminating against the rest of Northern Irish society just to placate one party – Sinn Féin.
In the report, the MPs recommend that future governments ensure “that all necessary steps are taken, including, if necessary, introducing legislation to ensure the letters have no legal effect”.In the report, the MPs recommend that future governments ensure “that all necessary steps are taken, including, if necessary, introducing legislation to ensure the letters have no legal effect”.
Laurence Robertson QC, the chairman of the Northern Ireland affairs select committee, said the victims of IRA violence had been let down by the way the government operated the OTR scheme. Laurence Robertson QC, the chairman of the Northern Ireland affairs select committee, said the victims of IRA violence had been let down by the way the government operated the on-the-run scheme.
“Regardless of the intentions, this scheme has caused further hurt to people who have suffered far too much already, and has led to further suspicions being raised.”“Regardless of the intentions, this scheme has caused further hurt to people who have suffered far too much already, and has led to further suspicions being raised.”
One of the 95 IRA OTRs, John Downey, was arrested and charged in 2013 with the London Hyde Park bombings in which four British soldiers were killed. However the case against the convicted IRA man from Co. Donegal collapsed after his legal team produced one of the “letters of assurance” in the Old Bailey revealing the existence of the comfort letters. One of the 95 IRA on-the-runs, John Downey, was arrested and charged in 2013 with the London Hyde Park bombings in which four British soldiers were killed. However the case against the convicted IRA man from Co. Donegal collapsed after his legal team produced one of the “letters of assurance” in the Old Bailey revealing the existence of the comfort letters.