PRESS RELEASE
14th August 2003
The Ministry of Defence has decided to allow Mark Wright and James Fisher, convicted of the 1992 murder of Peter Mc Bride, to remain serving soldiers. The Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram MP today informed the Pat Finucane Centre that
"…there are no plans for the [Army] Board to further review their [Wright &Fisher] employment status."
The refusal of the MoD to review the case comes despite a Court of Appeal judgement in June which held that the 'exceptional reasons' offered by the Army Board as justification for retention of the convicted murderers were not 'exceptional' under law. In the wake of that judgement the Independent Assessor on Military Complaints also called for an independent board to review the case. This has also been rejected.
In the letter from the Armed Forces Minister it has also emerged that one of the convicted men, James Fisher, has been promoted to Lance Corporal.
Jean Mc Bride, who earlier this week called for a boycott of John Spellar's office until the MoD finally responded to the court judgement, has reacted with total disbelief.
"Ingram has now rubber stamped Spellar's original decision which is nothing other than the State sanctioning the murder of Peter. Now they have damned cheek to reward the murderers by keeping them in the Army and, just to rub our noses in it, they have promoted one of them. Ingram and Spellar might as well have gone to Peter's grave and spat on it. They have shown contempt for our feelings and the outrage shared right across the community. Now its official-this government does not accept that Peter was murdered when he was shot in the back and shot again as he tried to crawl away. I have one message for this government, we are not going away. I will fight to have Wright and Fisher dismissed while I still a breath in my body."
A spokesperson for the Pat Finucane Centre added, "We are seeking urgent legal advice and will be meeting with the political parties who have supported the family." Plans are underway for a further international day of protest in September to coincide with the anniversary of Peter's death.