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Thursday, 03 December 2009

Greysteel killer's petition 'not TUV'

Jim Allister's TUV has distanced itself from a petition organised by one of its members in support of Greysteel killer Torrens Knight.

The petition calling for the loyalist killer to be released from jail was organised by TUV member Trevor Collins.

It is circulating in the Garvagh area, and Collins told the Daily Mirror it had been signed by "more than 2,000 people".

On Wednesday, Knight was jailed for four months for attacking two sisters in a Coleraine bar in May 2008.

His lawyers said he will appeal against his conviction for the two assaults and disorderly behaviour.

Knight was granted bail, but was immediately driven back to prison following the hearing because his early release licence was suspended in October.

The Life Sentence Review Commissioners is set to examine the case to decide if the suspension of his licence was justified and if Knight should serve out the remainder of his murder sentences.

The TUV confirmed Mr Collins is a member but made clear that the party did not support his stance.

"Traditional Unionist Voice is not promoting this petition," a TUV spokesman told UTV.

"The stance of TUV is clear, convicted terrorists should never have been released under the Belfast Agreement. If Traditional Unionist Voice had its way all convicted terrorists would be in jail."

But the spokesman said there were no plans to expel him.

Talking to the Daily Mirror, organiser Trevor Collins said he had mentioned the petition to TUV leader Jim Allister.

"He said he couldn't be associated with a convicted murderer as he's against all terrorists in government and he can't be seen to be supporting one", Collins said.

"Torrens got himself into trouble because of the situation in Northern Ireland. I'm not agreeing with what he did, but since he's got out of jail he's gone straight," he claimed.

"There are plenty of other boys out there who have done worse and they are not getting sent back", he added, insisting Knight was "a decent man".

"I can't understand why John Dallat has taken such personal umbrage against Torrens."

'Disgusting'

East Derry SDLP MLA John Dallat said the petition circulating in the Garvagh area to free the killer was "disgusting in the extreme."

The MLA has been supporting the two sisters who were assaulted by Knight and has urged the authorities to permanently revoke his early release licence.

"While I note that the TUV have distanced itself from the petition I would have thought that they would throw the organiser, Trevor Collins, out of the party if they really believe so strongly that all early release prisoners should be behind bars."

"I am concerned at the highly personal comments of Collins and I will be taking them into account when reviewing my own security."

South Antrim DUP MLA Trevor Clarke said that he was appalled to hear that Collins was involved in the campaign.

"This surely exposes the hypocrisy of the TUV; so much for the principles of Mr Allister's party. If this is the measure of integrity that the TUV seeks to bring to Northern Ireland politics dear help us all," he said.

"Mr Allister has a number of questions to answer, not least what disciplinary action he intends to take as he is good at preaching to others."

Torrens Knight was released in July 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday agreement, whilst serving life sentences for 12 murders.

Eight of his victims were gunned down when killers opened fire on the Rising Sun bar, in the village of Greysteel, near Londonderry, in 1993.

That same year Knight was part of a gang which murdered four Catholic builders in the seaside town of Castlerock.

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25 Comments

At 03:37 on 11 December 2009, Ricky wrote:

Take your blinkers off please.

At 20:43 on 07 December 2009, lorna wrote:

Ricky the Hamill murder tells me nothing of the sort.So the RUC instantly knew the man was Catholic, you persume. Many reasons why the police did not intercept. waiting for back up! One was a woman or not strong enough team there. I wonder what YOU would have done with the risk of being attacked and serious injury to yourself. The RUC I knew. would have been more helpful but what thanks. You can't condemn the force by what a handful didn't do. If the RUC knew then when they suffered at the hands of loyalists how they would be judged by you and your friends why would they bother.

At 18:07 on 07 December 2009, Ricky wrote:

well look at the Hamill case on the news today , & you tell me the ruc/psni & loyalists are not buddy's??? lol catch yourself on now :)

At 12:36 on 05 December 2009, lorna wrote:

Ricky. I did not say he should not have been convicted no one should get off with murder BUT in this country we have had just that . Murderers walking the streets after the RUC doing all they could to get IRA and Loyalists convicted. One had more control over their neighbours than the other. As for you comment the RUC, PSNI great buddies with loyalists you are misinformed. I have saw Police families being driven out of their homes by loyalists. I have seen Police Officers being spat on and attacked by loyalists. And the first RUC officer murdered was by loyalists. You are only trying to justify the murder of so many RUC by the IRA and your comment on the PSNI is dangerious for our police force today

At 07:01 on 05 December 2009, Mourne wrote:

All muder is sickening and disgusting Ulster Loyalist, as a Nationalist I have no time for those people who claimed to fight in my name by slaughtering innocent people to justify a cause. This petition was in bad taste and I certainly would not be signing any Republican get out of jail free card, it's absolute nonsense. Prisons were created to faciliate Knght and all those others out there creating havoc for the rest of us. During The Troubles we lost 3000 family, friends, colleagues and neighbours and for what?

At 20:52 on 04 December 2009, Ricky wrote:

Lorna wrote "Anyone who said the RUC was for the loyalists has to answer me this, Why was Knight convicted when so many IRA men were not." So going by your logic kinght should not have been convicted because others were not?If thats not what you mean then why bring that up? Can I ask what IRA people you are talking about? by the way the RUC/PSNI & loyalists have always been best of buddys. Any person realised under the GFA should take their chance & not abuse it,if they do they should be punished. Anyone defending this evil man should also be punished.

At 20:36 on 04 December 2009, jim wrote:

how many catholics were butchered by the uvf/uff/red hand in Belfast and elsewhere before the ira did what they did in the shankill....have you forgotten about those innocent people as well as you own innocent people who were just going about their business...leaving for work in the morning, expecting to return home to their families alive and well but instead coming home in a coffin...lives torn apart, destroyed, children left without a father all because he was either a catholic or protestant.... knight lifted the gun with one thing in mind..to take another human life, to gloat over it, to sneer and to revel in it......