16/01/2003

McBride family re-appeal Scots Guardsmen decision

The family of Peter McBride, who was shot and killed by the British army in 1992, will launch a fresh legal challenge against the MoD today over their decision to retain the two Scots Guardsmen in the ranks.

Lawyers for the McBride family will begin the appeal against the ruling of Justice Kerr in judicial review at 10.30am in the Court of Appeal, Belfast. Justice Kerr's ruling upheld the decision of a British Army Board allowing Guardsmen Mark Wright and James Fisher to remain as serving soldiers – despite their convictions for the murder of 18-year-old Peter McBride.

Commenting ahead of the appeal Jean Mc Bride said: "I have promised (Prime Minister) Tony Blair that I will fight for justice for my murdered son so long as there is a breadth left in my body. If we fail at the Court of Appeal we will go to Europe.

"I spent 18 years raising a son. If I have to spend another 18 years to get his murderers expelled from the British Army I will. Every day that Wright and Fisher remain in the army is an insult to his memory and sends the message that the life of a young Irish lad is worthless. I will never accept that. He was my son."

On September 4 1992, father-of-two Peter Mc Bride was stopped and searched by members of a Scots Guards patrol in the New Lodge area of north Belfast. He was subsequently shot as he fled the scene. Guardsmen Wright and Fisher were charged with murder and on February 10 1995 were convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, the pair were released and on November 3 1998 the Army Board ruled that Wright and Fisher could continue their careers in the services under an ‘exceptional circumstances’ clause.

The appeal hearing is expected to last two days.

(GMcG)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

11 August 2003
Jean McBride to meet NIO Minister
The mother of a man who was shot dead by the British Army 10 years ago is to meet with NIO Minister John Spellar to discuss his role in allowing the two soldiers who fired the fatal shots to remain in the armed forces. Jean McBride will meet Mr Spellar at Castle Buildings, Stormont, this afternoon.
26 September 2014
Cyclist Killed In North Down
A cyclist has been killed following a collision with a lorry. It is understood that the victim is male and aged in his 30s. The incident happened on the A1 carriageway outside Newry at about 20:30 on Thursday. The man died in hospital a short time after arrival. No details on the man's identity have been released.
13 June 2003
Army was wrong to keep killers says Court
The Court of Appeal in Belfast has said that the Army was wrong to retain two soldiers who killed a local teenager in 1992. Scots Guards Mark Wright and James Fisher were convicted of murdering 18-year-old Peter McBride while they were on patrol near his home in the New Lodge area of north Belfast.
04 September 2002
Protests held over McBride killing
Three protests have been held across the UK today to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of an 18-year-old Catholic father of two, Peter McBride, who was shot dead by the British Army in west Belfast. The vigil in Belfast was held at the City Hall between 1 and 2pm, and protests in London were held from 1pm to 4pm.
22 October 2009
Army Camp Blast Could Have Killed
Shrapnel from this morning's bomb attack on a north Belfast TA army base has been found in neighbouring gardens. According to police, a viable explosive device capable of causing death or serious injury was involved in the blast that was reported in the early hours of Thursday.