The family of Peter Mc Bride, the 18 year old Belfast man murdered by Guardsmen Mark Fisher and Jim Wright, are devastated by the news that the two soldiers who shot their son on September 4 1992 have been released. The family are particularly distressed at the timing of the decision coming as it does on the week of the anniversary of Peter's murder.
At a meeting in July between the Secretary of State Dr Mowlam, members of the Mc Bride family and a representative of the Pat Finucane Centre the Secretary of State promised Jean Mc Bride that the two would NOT be among the first wave of prisoner releases. In fact both were released before the first wave of prisoner releases due to begin next week. At the same meeting Dr Mowlam suggested that a further meeting take place before any decision would be made. In a letter to Dr Mowlam last week we reminded the Secretary of State of that promise. Once again this promise was not kept. We stressed that, from the perspective of the Mc Bride family, the two convicted men must be dismissed from the British Army before any release takes place. In fact both men began and finished their 'life sentences' as serving soldiers.
The Mc Bride family feel betrayed and deceived and have lost any trust they may have put in the Secretary of State. On Friday, the anniversary of Peter's murder, the two men who shot him will have returned to the British Army. Their early release at this time is a kick in the teeth for the Mc Bride family and the wider community.
Members of the Mc Bride family will hold a press conference at 12 pm today, Wednesday, at the Frank Gillen Centre, 1a Cullingtree Rd. We would request that the media arrange interviews at this conference.
A vigil which had already been planned for the Memorial Gardens, Donore Court, New Lodge on Friday at 7pm, the anniversary of Peter's death will go ahead.