Molloy denies being involved in murder of 'friend'
SINN Fein's Francie Molloy has revealed he had a childhood friendship with the man he has this week been accused of helping to murder.
As he continued to repudiate the killing claim and another claim that he was a British spy inside the IRA, the MLA said he had "never had any animosity" towards murdered RUC Reservist Eric Lutton or his family.
"Whenever I started school, Eric was older than me and he used to put me on the handle-bars of his bike and give me a ride to school," said Mr Molloy.
"We had a good relationship and I thought of him as a gentleman. That's why these allegations are such nonsense."
Upper Bann MP David Simpson used parliamentary privilege to claim Mr Molloy was involved with an IRA gang which killed Mr Lutton at Moy in 1979.
But he said he was protected from prosecution because he was a British agent inside the IRA.
Mr Lutton was a cousin of Mr Simpson.
Mr Molloy said: "This is completely unfounded and Mr Simpson produced no evidence for this ridiculous claim.
"Indeed, he abused parliamentary privilege to do this and I challenge him to come out in the open and say it, if he is so sure."
Mr Molloy claimed to have republican and public support in the wake of the allegations.
MP Martin McGuinness said: "These allegations from David Simpson deserve to be treated with total contempt. Francie is a well-respected republican."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
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