PFC Press Statement
Campaigners on behalf of the family of murdered Belfast teenager Peter Mc Bride have accused sections of the media and supporters of the released guardsmen of showing gross insensitivity towards the family of the victim.
A spokesperson for the Derry based Pat Finucane Centre has strongly criticised reports that the family of one of the released Guardsmen have sold their 'exclusive' story to a tabloid newspaper in Scotland. The spokesperson commented,
"this is in effect blood money and this family are benefiting financially from the death of an 18 year old man who was shot in the back. They should be ashamed of themselves as should the relevant newspaper, believed to be a Scottish tabloid. Perpetrators of violence are not supposed to profit from their crimes but apparently their families are allowed to do so. What an outcry there would be if the victim were English or Scottish. This 'exclusive' will be published on the same week as the anniversary of Peter's murder. We will be filing a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission."
Campaigners for the Mc Bride family have also sharply criticised reports of a planned public 'celebration' of the men's release due to be held this Saturday in Edinburgh.
"the planned 'celebration' shows the contempt that supporters of the Scots Guards have for the hurt and grieving on this side of the Irish Sea. It is hardly surprising however given the insensitivity and contempt shown by those in Government who decided to release the two men at this time."