24 April 1997 Edition

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Scots guards release more likely

Scots guards James Fisher, 28 and Mark Wright 23, who murdered North Belfast teenager Peter McBride in the New Lodge area of Belfast in 1992 have been told that their life sentences will be reviewed in October.

In one of his last acts in office before retiring NIO boss Patrick Mayhew announced his decision on Thursday 18 April which means that the two British soldiers whose release is now imminent may spend less than three years in jail for shooting McBride in the back. Normal life sentences are normally considered by the Life Sentence Review Board for the first time when prisoners have served at least ten years.

Jean McBride, Peter's mother, is extremely angry and disappointed at the decision. She told An Phoblacht, ``the whole thing is very unfair, these people have committed murder, they have only been in jail for three years and this campaign continues for their release, the whole thing is outrageous''.

North Belfast Sinn Fein representative Gerry Kelly said he wasn't surprised at the decision, ``Patrick Mayhew's decision is consistent with a British establishment which has always sought to protect its forces from the legal consequences of their criminal actions.''

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