Ulster Unionist Justice spokesperson, Tom Elliott MLA, has responded to comments by Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly in which he tweeted: “Happy 30th anniversary of the Great Escape 1983 from Long Kesh H Blocks to all those involved.”
Mr Elliott said:
“One should not be surprised at Gerry Kelly’s comments, given his recent utterances.
This is a man who was convicted of planting bombs in London in 1973 as a result of which one person was killed and 200 injured.
“During the Maze break-out in 1983 he shot and injured a prison warden in the head and another officer subsequently died.
“In the warped world inhabited by Mr Kelly, he does not believe he was involved in terrorism and has stated so very publicly. This is what we have to deal with in Northern Ireland.
“The Ulster Unionist Party shares the anger and the frustration of the many people who are outraged at Kelly’s comments. However, we are committed to doing what is right for Northern Ireland and for future generations, and we will not be deterred or deflected in that task.”