THE North Yorkshire policeman shot by Paul Magee complained today that no one has ever consulted him about the terrorist's bid for repatriation to Ireland.
Sandy Kelly, who survived being shot four times on the A64, near Tadcaster, said he has only heard via the media that the Government is considering an application by the IRA man for a transfer to a prison in the Irish Republic.
"I am a victim of this man and yet nobody has written to tell me," said the former PC, from near York. "I shouldn't have to read the papers to find these things out."
Mr Kelly spoke out as RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan confirmed that the IRA was involved in two recent murders in Northern Ireland, despite IRA claims that its ceasefire is still holding.
Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam is now considering calls for Sinn Fein to be expelled from the Irish peace talks.
The Ulster crisis deepened today with news of a paramilitary-style shooting of a 19-year-old man in County Down, whose injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
A number of IRA terrorists have been transferred to Ireland during the peace process, but Magee's repatriation application is being strongly opposed by the parents of Special Constable Glenn Goodman, whom he killed at Tadcaster. A Republican demonstration in support of Magee is expected outside Full Sutton Jail tomorrow.
Mr Kelly said that, if he had been consulted, he personally would have raised no objection to such a transfer. "As far as I am concerned, he can go as far away from me as possible. He has no bearing on my life anymore.
"I am encouraged by the fact that he will still serve 30 years - whether it is Full Sutton or Ireland makes no difference to me."
But he said that he was little uneasy about Magee's imprisonment at Full Sutton, considering that he had escaped and attempted to escape from prison on two previous occasions.
He said he fully understood and sympathised with Glenn's parents Brian and Margaret, and widow Fiona in their opposition to repatriation.
* The Northern Ireland peace process today faced its biggest crisis so far, following the RUC Chief Constable's assessment that the IRA was behind two recent murders.
Sinn Fein will have to be expelled from the multi-party talks. The Government will not want to do it, Gerry Adams will fight it but Ulster Secretary Mo Mowlam insists the integrity of the talks will be maintained and to do that, Sinn Fein has to go.
To let it stay would lead to accusations of double standards after the removal of the loyalist Ulster Democratic Party last month, and quite possibly hasten a walkout by unionists.
The IRA statement last night that the ceasefire was intact will not save Gerry Adams - it was noted the IRA did not try to deny they were involved in the murders of a top loyalist and a drug dealer. The deaths were not even mentioned.
Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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