Sean Kelly video: Shankill bomb victim ‘felt rotten’ when PPS decided not to prosecute
A man whose sister was killed in the Shankill bombing says he felt “rotten” when he heard that one of the bombers will not be prosecuted over an incident at a Belfast shopping centre last month.
Sean Kelly was given nine life sentences for the 1993 bombing on the Shankill Road which killed nine people. He was released early under the Good Friday Agreement (GFA).
A 20-second video clip showing an apparent disagreement in north Belfast was shared widely on social media last month.
The Public Prosecution Service said yesterday that a 46-year-old man had been considered for charges of common assault, possession of an offensive weapon and disorderly behaviour but that after “careful consideration of the available evidence” it concluded it “did not provide a reasonable prospect of conviction for any offence”.
Gary Murray, whose 13-year-old sister Leanne was killed in the bomb, said he was not surprised. “But in my opinion his licence should be revoked and he should be recalled to prison,” he said.
Mr Murray said he intended to lobby senior politicians on the issue. “I was sickened when I first saw the video and I felt kind of rotten when I heard the news that there would be no prosecution,” he added.
Kenny Donaldson, spokesman for Innocent Victims United, said: “Many will now ask if a de facto amnesty exists for certain individuals. What exactly would it take for Sean Kelly to be prosecuted or for his licence to be revoked?”
TUV leader Jim Allister questioned the claim that there was no evidence outside the video clip. “Was no one interviewed? Was any security camera footage obtained of the incident?” he asked.
Asked what standards it uses when deciding whether to re call prisoners released under the GFA, the Northern Ireland Office offered no comment.
The News Letter approached Mr Kelly for comment but there was no response at the time of going to press.