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13/06/2003
Pressure mounts on Sanders following suicide remarks
Pressure was mounting on the Conservative Party today to dismiss a Peterborough councillor over remarks made about the suicide of a soldier from Northern Ireland.
Tory councillor Neville Sanders caused controversy after dismissing a call for support for an inquiry into the death of RIR soldier Paul Cochrane, saying members of the armed forces got killed "be it by accident or design, that is what they are paid for".
His remarks have caused anger across Northern Ireland including the family of Mr Cochrane and local politicians.
DUP MP Iris Robinson said she was sickened by Mr Sander's remarks while Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Quentin Davis said he ''rejected with disgust" the remarks.
Mr Sanders also caused further fury following an interview with the Belfast Telegraph newspaper in which he hit out at the "lazy Irish".
In another extract from his Belfast Telegraph interview Mr Sanders claimed he didn't know where "poxy Carrickfergus" was and that enough English soldiers had been killed in Northern Ireland to fill "a doomsday book".
A special Conservative Party meeting is to take place on Monday where Mr Sanders will face party leader Iain Duncan Smith and chairman Teresa May to explain his remarks.
The incident broke following an appeal by Carrickfergus Council, in a letter to every UK council, calling for support for an inquiry into the death of Paul Cochrane.
The soldier shot himself at Drumaad barracks in Co Armagh in 2001 after complaining about suffering abuse.
(MB)
Tory councillor Neville Sanders caused controversy after dismissing a call for support for an inquiry into the death of RIR soldier Paul Cochrane, saying members of the armed forces got killed "be it by accident or design, that is what they are paid for".
His remarks have caused anger across Northern Ireland including the family of Mr Cochrane and local politicians.
DUP MP Iris Robinson said she was sickened by Mr Sander's remarks while Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Quentin Davis said he ''rejected with disgust" the remarks.
Mr Sanders also caused further fury following an interview with the Belfast Telegraph newspaper in which he hit out at the "lazy Irish".
In another extract from his Belfast Telegraph interview Mr Sanders claimed he didn't know where "poxy Carrickfergus" was and that enough English soldiers had been killed in Northern Ireland to fill "a doomsday book".
A special Conservative Party meeting is to take place on Monday where Mr Sanders will face party leader Iain Duncan Smith and chairman Teresa May to explain his remarks.
The incident broke following an appeal by Carrickfergus Council, in a letter to every UK council, calling for support for an inquiry into the death of Paul Cochrane.
The soldier shot himself at Drumaad barracks in Co Armagh in 2001 after complaining about suffering abuse.
(MB)
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17 June 2003
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The family of RIR suicide victim Paul Cochrane has hit out at the suspension of a Conservative Party councillor over remarks he made about their son. The soldier's father, William Cochrane claimed the move by the Conservative Party to suspend Neville Sanders did not go far enough and that he should have been expelled from the party outright.
Tory councillor's suspension branded inadequate
The family of RIR suicide victim Paul Cochrane has hit out at the suspension of a Conservative Party councillor over remarks he made about their son. The soldier's father, William Cochrane claimed the move by the Conservative Party to suspend Neville Sanders did not go far enough and that he should have been expelled from the party outright.
03 December 2003
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The Conservative Party has expelled Neville Saunders, the disgraced former leader of Peterborough City Council, after he refused to withdraw derogatory comments made earlier this year about the people of Northern Ireland.
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26 June 2003
Disgraced Tory ousted from council post
Disgraced Conservative Party councillor, Neville Sanders has been ousted from his post as Peterborough City Council leader over comments he made about the suicide of a Royal Irish Regiment (RIR) soldier.
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NIUP member expelled for remarks over murder allegation
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DUP Calls On Dublin To 'Use Its Influence' On EU Negotiators
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