The local parish priest in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast has called on the British government to release Shankill bomber Sean Kelly from prison.

Mr Kelly was sent back to jail last month when Northern Secretary Peter Hain revoked his licence for early release under the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Hain said he had received information that Kelly had resumed involvement in paramilitarism.

However, Fr Aidan Troy has said there is no apparent evidence to support the re-imprisonment and has called for the IRA man's release.

Local DUP MP Nigel Dodds has condemned the call as "crass, insensitive and inappropriate".

I actually think Mr Dodds has a point here. Why is a parish priest calling for the release of this man? Shouldn't religion and politics be kept apart?

And what happened to 'Thou shalt not kill'?

# posted by United Irelander @ 3:53 PM