Daughter of Shankill bombing victims said Sean Kelly video footage made her ‘blood boil’

A woman whose parents were killed in the Shankill Road bomb attack has said that video footage of the man responsible involved in a supermarket altercation made her “blood boil”.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th May 2020, 05:58 BST
Michelle Williamson at the grave of her parents George and GillianMichelle Williamson at the grave of her parents George and Gillian
Michelle Williamson at the grave of her parents George and Gillian

Michelle Williamson has urged NI Secretary Brandon Lewis to revoke the licence of IRA bomber Sean Kelly after he was filmed being restrained by passers-by during the disturbance outside a Belfast shop on Saturday.

The mass killer was videoed wielding a stick outside the Eurospar at the Flax Centre in Ardoyne in Belfast. Several men and women restrained ex-IRA prisoner Kelly, who was pictured in an agitated state.

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Michelle said: “I would say to the secretary of state to do the right thing, based on Kelly’s past behaviour. Have the courage to act and put this man back where he belongs to give his victims a chance of closure.

“How many times does he have to break his terms before his licence is revoked? It will be the same again. Mr Untouchable. It makes my blood boil.

“When Kelly was given early release, it was the chance to get on with his life which is more than he gave my mother and father and the families of the seven other innocent victims he murdered.”

Nine people, including two children, were killed in the 1993 blast at Frizzell’s fish shop on the Shankill Road in what was one of the most notorious attacks during the Troubles.

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Two IRA bombers, including Kelly, disguised themselves as deliverymen to carry out the attack and planned to force the customers out at gunpoint before planting a bomb with a short fuse. But the device exploded prematurely, killing one of the bombers along with Michelle’s parents, George, 63, and his wife Gillian Williamson, 49.

Kelly survived and was given nine life sentences for his role in the attack but only spent five years in prison, before being released under the Good Friday Agreement.

Michelle said: “My mum and dad were inseparable. They worked together, had a family together, went shopping together and were just ripped apart.

“That day at the Shankill, I can picture my dad being the gentleman he is, would have opened that door to the bomber coming in but little did he know that door was to end their lives.”

Police have confirmed that they have spoken to Kelly about the supermarket incident and a report is being prepared for the Public Prosecution Service.