The sister of the teenage father of two shot dead by two British soldiers is to stand in a Westminster by-election later this month. Ms Kelly McBride will run in the Brent-East constituency following the death of the MP there earlier this year.
Her brother, Peter, was shot dead by Scots Guards Mark Wright and James Fisher, in the New Lodge area of north Belfast on this day (September 4th) in 1992.
They were convicted of murder in 1995 and jailed. However they were released after three years and have rejoined their regiment. Campaigners supporting the McBride family have sought their dismissal from the British army.
Ms McBride, who is being supported by Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams and Mr John Kelly of the Bloody Sunday Families.
She said she is unlikely to win the safe Labour seat adding she sought only to highlight her family's plight over the past 11 years since the murder. She said she wanted to bring her argument "right to the heart of the political debate in Britain".
In a message to the voters of Brent East, she said: "I know little of the day-to-day problems you face. I don't expect to win this election, but by standing I hope to win justice. If a major can be expelled for cheating on a game show, why should convicted murderers be kept in the army and even promoted?"
Mrs Jean McBride, the murdered man's mother, said yesterday that public action was the only way to bring attention to the case.
The SDLP Lord Mayor of Belfast has vowed to continue his policy of boycotting the Northern Ireland Office minister, Mr John Spellar because of his involvement in the controversy. He had sat on a British army review board which chose to reinstate the two soldiers.
Mr Martin Morgan, who was elected Lord Mayor early last summer, was criticised by councillors at a meeting earlier this week who voted to condemn him.
Mr Morgan said: "I am keeping my position under constant review in relation to Mr Spellar in light of the views of the McBride family and any action which might be taken to alleviate the injustice they have suffered." Yesterday, Mr Gerry Adams greeted Ms Kelly McBride's decision to contest the Brent-East by-election.
He said: "Sinn Féin supports this initiative. It provides the McBride family with an opportunity to raise their demand that the two Scots Guards convicted of murdering Mr Peter McBride should be removed from the British army."