Ulster Unionist Councillor, Danny Kinahan, has called for the government to commit resources to bringing former priest, Patrick Ryan, to justice for his role in arming the IRA, given his admissions to the BBC`s Spotlight programme. Danny Kinahan is a former member of the Blues and Royals whose friends and colleagues were murdered in Hyde Park on 20 July 1982.

Danny Kinahan said:

“The 20 July 1982 was one of the worst days of my life when four of my friends and colleagues from the Blues and Royals were cruelly murdered by ruthless IRA terrorists and our horses cut down in Hyde Park. We should not forget that seven Royal Green Jackets were also blown up in Regent’s Park that day too. 

“It is extremely uncomfortable to see a former priest seemingly gloating in the part that he played in the murder of my friends, and words cannot really express my anger. Patrick Ryan is clearly an evil, callous IRA terrorist and still seems to take pleasure in the pain that he has inflicted on others. I have worked with the families of the Hyde Park victims to get justice for their loved ones and the least that our government can do for them is to seek immediately to bring Ryan to justice, no matter where in the world he currently resides. Resources should be committed to locating and arresting him.

“If Patrick Ryan happens to live in the Republic of Ireland, this will be a test of the Varadkar Government`s commitment to righting the wrong of the Irish government`s refusal to extradite Ryan to the United Kingdom in 1988. Terrorists should not expect to get away with gloating about their evil activities and rubbing salt into the wounds of innocent victims.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

When asked if Margaret Thatcher was right to link him (Patrick Ryan) to bombs such as Hyde Park and Brighton, he said: “Absolutely – 100%. Oh yes.”