Family of murdered Maghera man ‘deeply hurt’ by killer’s prison leave bid

The family of a police officer from Maghera murdered by the IRA have described as ‘callous’ a court bid by the Swatragh man convicted of his murder, to have a 48-hour prison leave for St Patrick’s.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Mar 2015, 18:50 BST
Funeral of John Proctor who was an RUC reservist, who was shot at the Mid Ulster Hospital after visiting his wife who had recently given birth to theit second son.Funeral of John Proctor who was an RUC reservist, who was shot at the Mid Ulster Hospital after visiting his wife who had recently given birth to theit second son.
Funeral of John Proctor who was an RUC reservist, who was shot at the Mid Ulster Hospital after visiting his wife who had recently given birth to theit second son.

A statement issued by the Innocent Victims United [IVU] said the court move had ‘heaped more hurt’ on the family.

“The family of Constable Proctor who are associated with Innocent Victims United contacted us this evening to express their deep hurt at learning of this development,” said IVU spokesman Kenny Donaldson.

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“It is absolutely callous on the part of Seamus Kearney to be seeking to exploit the legal system in order to remove himself from Prison over Saint Patrick’s weekend for the given reason of attending a GAA match and no doubt revel in the festivities which surround St Patrick’s Day”.

“What Seamus Kearney and many other convicted terrorists and indeed those who have to date escaped Justice refuse to accept is that because of their actions families have been left broken and are forced to serve life sentences without cherished loved one(s) There is no early release, there is no parole for that pain and hurt - it’s impacts are unyielding”.

Mr Donaldson added: “Two years was the maximum sentence that could be handed down to Seamus Kearney or any other terrorist convicted of pre 1998 crimes. Instead of engaging in actions which have the impact of insulting and heaping hurt upon surviving families, he and others should be considering what they have done to their fellow human being.

“They should be seeking repentance and demonstrating remorse, serving the tariff and then upon release commit themselves to a new life where they seek to serve the community - not ravage the community.”

Related topics:MagheraIRA