The penalty given to Lord Maginnis is grossly excessive

A letter from Rev Dr David Clements:
By Rev David Clements
Published 8th Dec 2020, 12:03 BST
Updated 8th Dec 2020, 18:12 BST
Ken Maginnis in 1985, when he was MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Rev Clements says Mr (now Lord) Maginnis understands death threats because the IRA tried to murder him and that people are alive because of his service. Maginnis also comforted families such as that of David Clements when his father was murdered 35 years agoKen Maginnis in 1985, when he was MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Rev Clements says Mr (now Lord) Maginnis understands death threats because the IRA tried to murder him and that people are alive because of his service. Maginnis also comforted families such as that of David Clements when his father was murdered 35 years ago
Ken Maginnis in 1985, when he was MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Rev Clements says Mr (now Lord) Maginnis understands death threats because the IRA tried to murder him and that people are alive because of his service. Maginnis also comforted families such as that of David Clements when his father was murdered 35 years ago

I write with a heavy heart about Lord Maginnis of Drumglass.

If he has been rude and used inappropriate language and with the stubborn spirit of a good many eighty-year-olds that I know, refused to make a suitable apology, then I am not going to defend those actions.

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That said, his ‘punishment’ for these crimes seems grossly excessive.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

With what rich irony did one of his accusers tell the press that she had received death threats?

It made the main headline in a Northern Ireland newspaper a few days ago — it took a careful reading to clearly understand that the threat did not come from Lord Maginnis!

Ken Maginnis understands death threats in a way that his accusers never will. Do you know how many times the IRA attempted to murder him, or how many people are alive because of his courageous service?

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One who is not is my own father — murdered by the IRA 35 years ago this very day.

I and my mother will never forget that a few weeks later, on Christmas morning, we had a visit from our MP with a present for me and my younger siblings. That MP was Ken Maginnis.

I don’t know what you will do with this letter, my voice is a very faint one against the screams of the ‘woke brigade’ but at least I have raised it in support of a good man — and feel better for doing so.

Rev Dr David Clements, Cullybackey

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Related topics:Northern IrelandIRA