PSNI urged to explain Kelly return to jail
Northern Ireland police chief Hugh Orde was urged tonight to state clearly why IRA bomber Sean Kelly was put back behind bars.
Mr Kelly was returned to jail yesterday by Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain for breaching the terms of his early release under the Good Friday Agreement.
However nationalist SDLP justice spokesman Alban Maginness said the re-arrest, which Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has described as deplorable, raised serious questions about the prisoner which needed to be addressed.
“If it is proved that Mr Kelly has been re-engaged in terrorist activity then some serious questions must be asked,” the North Belfast Assembly member said.
“Under the terms of prisoner release negotiated under the Agreement this is the most serious breach and re-arrest is the only option.
“Given this arrest and re-imprisonment it is now incumbent on the Chief Constable and the authorities to demonstrate clearly that the reason for Mr Kelly’s re-arrest is based on substantial evidence of his re-offending.”
Mr Kelly, aged 33, was originally jailed for bombing a fish shop in 1993 in the Shankill Road area and killing 10.
He was released with other prisoners in July 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Hain said yesterday he had ordered the Shankill bomber’s re-arrest because security intelligence indicated Mr Kelly had become involved again with terrorist activity.
“I am satisfied that Sean Kelly has become re-involved in terrorism and is a danger to others and while he is at liberty, is likely to commit further offences,” he said.
“On the basis of security information available to me, I have decided to return Sean Kelly to prison with immediate effect.”
Mr Hain also warned he would not hesitate to suspend the licence of other prisoners who got early release under the Good-Friday Agreement if they presented a risk to the safety of others.
Independent Sentence Review Commissioners will now consider Mr Kelly‘s case and decide whether to revoke his licence.
