Conference tallis::celt

    Can't the bullets that were removed from the body be compared against
    the weapons of the soldiers to determine who fired the fatal round as
    opposed to the 40 or so that hit the car?
    
    I was listening to a retired officer of the regiment who is involved in
    the campaign and he seemed to think the shooting was justified anyway
    which isn't helpful.
    
    Possibly the case should be reviewed but only in the context of Clegg
    not having fired the fatal shot(s) and not as to whether the shooting
    was justified anyway. Private Clegg should hope he doesn't have to wait
    15 years to have his case reviewed.
    
    Paul

    If the bullets have passed through the steel skin of the car or
    the glass, the bullets _MAY_ fragment. 
    
    Simon

    
    he admits he fired the shots...
    
    It was claimed that the reason he did so was that the car had hit
    another soldier in the leg..In fact his other soldier mates
    actually actually beat the "alleged injured soldier" with rifle
    butts..to make it look like he was hit
    
    This case 
    

from An Phoblacht/Republican News
news and views of the Irish Republican movement--Sinn Fein
June 8, 1995


--------
We're expecting any day now that Karen Reilly will be found guilty of the
imprisonment of Private Lee Clegg'
                         BY LAURA FRIEL

     SINN FEIN'S Martin McGuinness, speaking at the height of the
British media's campaign to release the convicted paratrooper,
summed up the hypocrisy which has underlined the case. This week
Clegg will know if he will walk free from jail after serving less
than two years of a life sentence for the murder of West
Belfast teenager Karen Reilly despite his conviction having been
upheld after two appeals.

     Outraged that one of their soliders could actually be found
guilty of murder for shooting dead an unarmed Irish citzen and
worse still, jailed for the crime, the British establishment
launched a massive campagin to secure Clegg's release. In
the words of the Daily Telegraph's Max Hastings:
''If we have stirred the passions of the British people to such
effect that we have made our rulers frightened enough to release
Private Lee Clegg, then this form of intimidation most of us
believe to be wholly justified.''

     Consideration of the case on Tuesday by the NIO's Life
Sentence Review Board is the latest episode in the Clegg saga.
Normally a lifer's case is not subject to review until at least
ten years has been served.

     On the eve of the review, it was revealed that senior army
generals have drawn up a ''post-release'' strategy for Clegg.
Major General Hew Pike, Parachute Regimental officer and
commandant at Sandhurst, is believed to have offered Clegg a
posting as a physical education instructor at Sandhust, the elite
officer training academy. Despite his murder conviction, the
British army has refused to discharge Clegg and throughout his
jail term is paying him full army wages.

     The speed with which Clegg's case has been dealt with stands
in stark contrast to the lengthy procedures faced by Irish,
particularly republican, prisoners. There are currently 24
republican prisoners who have served ten years or more.
Fifteen of those were knocked back for a further five years at
their first review.

     The longest-serving prisoner in Long Kesh is republican POW
Brendan McFarlane who has served 18 years of a life sentence.
After serving ten years in 1987, the Review Board deferred
McFarlane's case for a further five years. In 1992 his
case was deferred again for a further three years. Last year,
Theresa McArdle became the first woman prisoner whose case was
deferred by the Board. She is now in her 15th year of
incarceration. Sixty republican lifers in Long Kesh have
served longer terms than Clegg. In England ten republican lifers
are in their 20th year of imprisonment. Six of them were
convicted on charges less serious than murder.

     As protestors gathered outside Belfast's City Hall last
Tuesday, the hypocrisy which has underpinned the British
establishment's  mobilisation to secure the release of Lee Clegg
was summed up by a poster held by two women quietly standing in
the rain with their young children. It said: ''Clegg kills Irish
children and becomes a British hero.''
-------------
             Standing room only on Clegg bandwagon

     JANUARY 13: With Clegg's final appeal pending, Daily
Telegraph publishes a letter from Clegg and runs ''The nightmare
of Lee Clegg''. Later, British Lord Denning, former Master of the
Rolls, criticises Law Lords decision.

     JANUARY 20: Daily Mail launches 'Free Lee Clegg' campaign
with four pages and an editorial. Telegraph demands Clegg's
freedom in leader article. Former British Chief of the Defence
Staff, Field Marshell Lord Bramell backs Clegg campaign.
Senior officers in the paras pledge to continue the ''fight for
justice''.

     British Tory MP Julian Brazier calls for House of Commons
debate on the dismissal of Clegg's appeal.

     JANUARY 21: Morning Television presenters, Ann Diamond and
Nick Owen, interview Clegg's family. Later ITV's Richard and Judy
host a phone-in calling for Clegg's release.

     JANUARY 22: Sunday Express front page, 'The Final Betrayal'
links peace process with Clegg case, accusing Tory ministers of
''fraternising with Sinn Fein'' while ''scapegoat para languishes
in jail''.

     JANUARY 23: Telegraph calls Clegg ''a sacrifical victim'' in
second editoral in three days. Mail's front page interviews Clegg
in jail ''I won't let it break me'' and prints petition for
readers to send to John Major, demanding Clegg's
release. British Prince Charles, colonel-in-chief of the
paratroopers, described as ''sympathetic''. Veterans threaten to
boycott VE Day celebrations unless Clegg is released.

     JANUARY 24: Sun launches campaign to free Clegg. Over 60
British MP's sign a Commons motion condemning Clegg's conviction.
British Secretary of Defence, Malcolm Rifkind recommends Clegg's
release to Patrick Mayhew. Anthony Grant MP, executive of the
powerful 1922 Committee, calls for emergency commons debate.
JANUARY 26: Daily Star launch campaign for Clegg with front page
'Tie a Yellow Ribbon for Lee'. A 60,000 signature petition
gathered by the media is delivered to Downing Street by Clegg's
mother accompanied by British army Arnhem veterans.

     Lt General Sir Napier Crookenden, formally of the Parachute
Regiment, appears on televison refusing to apologise to the
Reilly family. General Anthony Farrar-Hockley, former GOC in the
Six Counties and General Gray coordinate Clegg
campaign.

     JANUARY 27: Sun, Mail and Telegraph carry letters from Clegg
thanking for the ''overwhelming public support'' they have
mobilised.

     MARCH 13: British government announce Clegg's case will be
     considered by the Life Sentence Review Board in June.

 re. .4

  Another example of more British hypocrisy.
                Mark

But he's a political prisoner!!  He should be released immediately!!!

Isn't that the normal line used when moaning and whining about IRA
prisoners?

Chris.

 re. .6

  That was a good example of British hypocrisy.  So which is it? Are
  they political prisoners or murderers?  Or is it only political prisoners
  when they were a British uniform, and murderers when they are
  Irish Republicans?  Well?

                     Mark

    Mark.
    
    
    Your own self hipocrisy is boundless.
    
    At times it is hilarious, but most of the time it is very, very sad.
    
    
    CHARLEY

I'm trying not to sully this conferene with inane/flippant comments, but
I think that Charley has it spot on.  Mark's comment does seem to smack
somewhat of the old pot and kettle adage.

Chris.

    >I'm trying not to sully this conferene with inane/flippant comments.
    
    Well don't then.
    
    Cheers
    Mark (not O'Holohan)

  Question:  What's the reward for murdering a Belfast teenage girl?

  Answer: If you're in the British Army, it's a promotion.  


From PA news:
"  Paratrooper Lee Clegg, the soldier freed from a life sentence for the
murder of a teenager in Ulster, has  been promoted to lance-corporal, it
emerged today."


  Could someone please explain to me how this is an example of redoubled
  British effort to help the faltering peace process?

                        Mark

                      <<< Note 1448.11 by GYRO::HOLOHAN >>>


>  Question:  What's the reward for murdering a Belfast teenage girl?

>  Answer: If you're in the British Army, it's a promotion.  


   I find your "humor" somewhat tasteless and wholly predictable.


>From PA news:
>"  Paratrooper Lee Clegg, the soldier freed from a life sentence for the
>murder of a teenager in Ulster, has  been promoted to lance-corporal, it
>emerged today."

   Apparently Clegg is now a PT instructor. His promotion goes through
   on the nod, because on his length of service. Sorry, if you find
   the whole story disappointing.

>  Could someone please explain to me how this is an example of redoubled
>  British effort to help the faltering peace process?

   Mark,

    Please can you tell me what your constant vitriol can hope to achieve
    with regard to the "faltering peace process".

    Stuart

    I don't agree with Mark on a lot of issues, and I don't believe his
    "humor" is warranted, but I would have to state that promoting Clegg
    is extremely insensitive to the Irish peace process and particularly
    to the Irish people.
    
    Promoting someone based simply on length of service, given his
    backgound and history, is quite incredible.
                        

          <<< Note 1448.13 by TALLIS::DARCY "Alpha Migration Tools" >>>
                        -< Yes, it's disappointing... >-

>    I don't agree with Mark on a lot of issues, and I don't believe his
>    "humor" is warranted, but I would have to state that promoting Clegg
>    is extremely insensitive to the Irish peace process and particularly
>    to the Irish people.
 
     By the same token, a "military funeral with honour" for IRA members who
     have been responsible for the murder of innocent people, is
     extremely insensitive to people of all faiths who are against
     terrorism.
   
>    Promoting someone based simply on length of service, given his
>    backgound and history, is quite incredible.
 
     I agree. Digital, and many other organisations, used to be masters 
     at this.                       


     Stuart

    The reason given for Clegg's promotion is wrong. Clegg is now a PT
    Instructor. In a rank oriented organisation, in this case the army, it
    is not possible to order privates to do PT if one is the same rank.
    Clegg has been temporarily promoted to the lowest possible rank
    comensurate with doing the job. It has nothing to do with length of
    service. If he ever returns to an "active" role he will revert to the
    rank of private. 
    It is my understanding that he was given the role of PT Instructor
    because it is entirely internal and he will not be back on active duty.
    Don't forget Clegg is a convicted murderer who has been released on
    licence and could be returned to jail at any time if he misbehaves.
    
    Not every action is anti Irish.
    
    Andrew

    Why was he ever released?
    Why, when he was released, was he given a job in the Army?
    Surely he should have been sacked the instant he was
    found guilty of murder?

Re .16

>    Why was he ever released?

He was released because of a campaign by various newspapers in the UK. 
These papers presented a very biased view of the whole situation which
made murderer Clegg look like a tragic victim of circumstances. It should 
also be remembered that no British soldier ever found guilty of murder in 
NI has ever served a full sentence. As soon as he was originally jailed for
this murder he was transfered to an English jail to be close to his family.
When Irish "terrorists" are jailed they too are transfered to English jails
for the exact opposite reason.

>    Why, when he was released, was he given a job in the Army?

I can only imagine that it is to further de-stabilise the peace process.
    According to reply .4 in this note he was on full army wages while
    still in jail.

>    Surely he should have been sacked the instant he was
>    found guilty of murder?

Clearly in the eyes of the British Army the murder of an innocent Irish
civilian doesn't even warrant the sack never mind jail.

For those people who are not familiar with the circumstances of this case:-
Private Lee Clegg was found guilty of murder in a Belfast Court. He was 
also found guilty at his appeal and when he finally appealed to the House 
of Lords...they found him guilty as well! - good enough reasons for him
spending two years in jail ?