Sinn Fein councillor attacks gun ban
A prominent Sinn Fein councillor today accused a High Court judge of ‘‘wilfully endangering’’ his life and his family after refusing him permission to carry a gun for his own protection.
Mr Justice Kerr dismissed an application from Martin Meehan for a judicial review of a lifetime ban on being legally armed because of his past terrorist convictions.
The republican, who sits on Antrim Council, hit back saying: ‘‘He ruled today that I should not have the right to protect my family.
‘‘This despite the fact that I have been under constant threat and the victim of numerous loyalist murder bids.’’
Mr Meehan said 13 Sinn Fein councillors and numerous other party colleagues had been murdered over the past year.
The judge’s ruling was ‘‘an invitation for those involved in this activity to continue,’’ he said.
