Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott has welcomed the Inquest verdict which ruled that SAS troopers were justified in shooting dead an IRA man County Armagh in 1990.
The Fermanagh & South Tyrone MLA, who is also his Party’s Justice spokesman said:
“Today’s inquest verdict exonerating the SAS of any wrong-doing is unquestionably the right one.
The Jury ruled that the SAS had used reasonable force in shooting Dessie Grew, and with remarkable common sense, acknowledged the fact that the two IRA terrorists put their own lives in danger by being in the area of the sheds, near a stolen car which was expected to be used in terrorist activity. Both men were also armed with automatic weapons, wearing gloves and masks and were approaching soldiers, and any reasonable person would agree that it was not unreasonable for the soldiers to believe their own lives were in immediate danger.
The IRA often complained about the existence of a shoot to kill policy and complained that armed terrorists should have been arrested. The IRA were quite content to ambush people under the cover of darkness, but weren’t prepared to take the possible consequences of their actions.
This verdict will be welcomed by all right-thinking people.”