February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Kelly was released under the Good Friday agreement from nine life sentences imposed for his part in a 1993 bombing on the Shankill Road.
Northern Secretary, Peter Hain, said he had authorized Kelly’s return to jail on the basis of unspecified security information.
Kelly was one of two men who planted a bomb that exploded prematurely in a Shankill Road shop. Nine civilians died along with another IRA bomber, Thomas Begley. The IRA had been targeting a meeting at UDA offices over the shop.
Hain said he was satisfied that Kelly had become re-involved in terrorism and “is a danger to others and, while he is at liberty, is likely to commit further offences”.
On the basis of security information, Hain said, he had decided to return Kelly to prison.
The Sinn Fein assembly member for North Belfast, Gerry Kelly, called the decision “deplorable” and accused Hain of “acquiescing to the demands of unionists opposed to the peace process.”
Kelly, he said, had done nothing to warrant “this harsh, cynical decision and should be released without delay.” Kelly had also played invaluable and positive roles in keeping the situation calm at interfaces.
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