Barry McCaffrey, November 2001, Irish News
A Belfast mother last night appealed for an end to the agony over the fate of her son's killers being allowed to remain in the British army.
Father of two Peter McBride was murdered by Scots Guardsmen Mark Wright and James Fisher as he walked along the New Lodge Road in north Belfast in September 1992.
The two soldiers were subsequently convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
In 1998 Wright and Fisher were given early release by then secretary of state Mo Mowlam and allowed to return to the British army.
In recent years Jean McBride has taken two judicial reviews to have her son's killers expelled from the army, but as yet Wright and Fisher are still serving soldiers.
"We won the first judicial review to have them expelled, but the British army just ignored the court and allowed them to stay on," said an angry Jean McBride.
"We have now waited a full six months for a decision in the second judicial review but there is still no word.
"With Peter's 29th birthday next week and Christmas coming it is just a nightmare having to wait to find out if this pair are going to cheat justice yet again."
Jean McBride admits that she still finds it impossible to get on with her life knowing that her son's killers are still serving soldiers.
"If we knew what was happening we could have some kind of closure on the thing but not knowing just makes it worse.
"I don't sleep at night, I just wait for daylight.
"When daylight comes I'm just waiting for darkness again.
"If a doctor or a nurse was convicted of deliberately killing someone in the operating theatre they would not be allowed to work in a hospital again.
"So why is it that two soldiers, who a judge said deliberately murdered my son, are back in the army carrying loaded guns.
"Even if they were kicked out of the British army tomorrow they still have their own lives.
"They can celebrate this Christmas with their families and friends.
"All I have on Christmas morning is a visit to the graveyard to see my son.
"It's been six long months waiting for this decision.
"My biggest fear is that this Christmas morning I still won't know if my son has been given justice."
McBride agony must be ended.
THERE will be enormous sympathy for Jean McBride over the latest ordeal she has suffered after the killing of his son, Peter, by two Scots Guardsmen nine years ago.
Mark Wright and James Fisher were found guilty of murdering Mr McBride on the New Lodge Road in Belfast and sentenced to life imprisonment.
However, three years ago, they were given early release by the then secretary of state, Mo Mowlam, and allowed to return to the British army.
Mrs McBride went to court in an attempt to have the pair expelled from the military, but, although her judicial review was successful, the two convicted killers remain with their regiment.
She then took a second judicial review, and has been waiting for six months without any verdict being announced.
Peter McBride would have been 29 next week, and his mother faces the prospect of the uncertainty continuing over the Christmas period and perhaps into the new year.
In all the circumstances, it is reasonable to expect that the authorities will make every possible effort to settle the matter swiftly.
Mrs McBride has already waited too long for justice in the case and deserves to have her agony brought to an end.