Ex-soldier maimed by IRA bomber: How can a man who killed an 18-year-old boy get a job in education?

A former soldier maimed in an IRA bomb attack has slammed the appointment of a man convicted for his part in the atrocity to the Education Authority.
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John Radley from Birkenhead was a 21-year-old lance corporal in the Irish Guards when he was nearly killed by an IRA nail bomb at Chelsea Barracks in 1981.

An 18-year-old youth and a woman were killed and almost 40 soldiers injured.

Prominent Sinn Fein member Paul Kavanagh was sentenced to five life terms for his part in the attack.

John Radley was a 21-year-old lance corporal in the Irish Guards when he was nearly killed by an IRA nail bomb.John Radley was a 21-year-old lance corporal in the Irish Guards when he was nearly killed by an IRA nail bomb.
John Radley was a 21-year-old lance corporal in the Irish Guards when he was nearly killed by an IRA nail bomb.

He is married to senior Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson and was a special advisor to former deputy first minister Martin McGuinness.

The Education Authority announced yesterday that he is one of four new appointees to the body.

“I lost my career and my way of life and I live with constant searing pain,” said Mr Radley.

“In England if you do something that puts a child at risk you can’t get a job in a school.

Martina Anderson celebrates with her husband Paul Kavanagh at the European Election count at the King's Hall in Belfast in 2020.Martina Anderson celebrates with her husband Paul Kavanagh at the European Election count at the King's Hall in Belfast in 2020.
Martina Anderson celebrates with her husband Paul Kavanagh at the European Election count at the King's Hall in Belfast in 2020.

“So how can this person guilty of murdering an 18-year-old boy get a job on an Education Authority? You would not be able to do it in England.

“I have never heard him express any remorse for his actions.”

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One six-inch nail passed through Mr Radley’s neck down into his back. Another struck him in the forehead.

He lost the sight in one eye and the hearing in one ear and has serious injuries in one hand. He also suffers from PTSD.

He added: “The guilty always say ‘move on and leave the innocent behind’. They are cowards who hide behind the women and children that they blow up.”

He was finally discharged from the Army aged 28. Since then he has lived on an Army pension and disability benefits.

Ann Travers, whose sister Mary was gunned down by the IRA as she left chapel in west Belfast in 1984, also hit out at the appointment.

Ms Travers was instrumental in introducing a law in 2013 which forbade anyone with terrorist convictions from becoming a ministerial special advisor at Stormont, after a woman convicted of involvement in her sister’s murder, Mary McCardle, was appointed to such a role.

Now she says that the same standards should also apply to Education Authority appointees.

She is not aware of Mr Kavanagh ever expressing remorse for the bombing, but she said his actions left children without fathers and wives without husbands.

“I find it quite bizarre that the Education Authority board would feel that somebody guilty of such a serious crime is a good role model for our young people, whom we are trying to educate on the lifetime effects of trauma in the hope that what happened in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s will never happen again,” she said.

She added: “In the memory of one of their own young teachers who was murdered by terrorists I would ask the Education Authority to strongly rethink this appointment.”

Ann’s sister was a primary school teacher in her first year of teaching when she was gunned down.

TUV leader Jim Allister, who helped her introduce the legal bar on ministerial special advisors with criminal convictions, also hit out.

“The appointment of Paul Kavanagh to the board of the Education Authority is a kick in the teeth for innocent victims and sends a dreadful message to the upcoming generation,” he said.

He also said he is not aware that Mr Kavanagh ever expressed remorse for the attack, which he noted saw 59-year-old widow Nora Field and 18-year-old Irishman John Breslin “brutally murdered” and dozens of others injured.

Kenny Donaldson, Spokesman for Innocent Victims United said: “This is not the calibre of appointment that Northern Ireland needs within the education fraternity”.
DUP East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said: “Each political party makes nominations to the Education Authority. It is a matter for each party who they nominate although it is entirely understandable the outrage at this Sinn Fein nomination.”

Sinn Fein was asked if Mr Kavanagh has ever expressed any remorse for the attack.

A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: “Paul Kavanagh has a wealth of experience in education, government and policy development.”

An Education Authority spokesperson said: “The appointment of political members to the EA board is made in accordance with the D’Hondt Principles. Under these principles, members are nominated by the relevant political party.”

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