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IRA 'supergrass' wants to return | IRA 'supergrass' wants to return |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Former republican "supergrass" Raymond Gilmour has said he wants to return to his native Londonderry. | Former republican "supergrass" Raymond Gilmour has said he wants to return to his native Londonderry. |
He was a member of the INLA and the IRA and his evidence brought dozens of people to trial in the early 1980s. | He was a member of the INLA and the IRA and his evidence brought dozens of people to trial in the early 1980s. |
The case collapsed when the then Lord Chief Justice dismissed his evidence as being "unworthy of belief". | The case collapsed when the then Lord Chief Justice dismissed his evidence as being "unworthy of belief". |
Raymond Gilmour is now asking Sinn Fein leaders to promise he would be safe if he returned to Derry, where he still has relatives. | Raymond Gilmour is now asking Sinn Fein leaders to promise he would be safe if he returned to Derry, where he still has relatives. |
"I would like Martin McGuinness's assurances, and Gerry Adams's, and whoever else is in charge of Sinn Fein," he said. | "I would like Martin McGuinness's assurances, and Gerry Adams's, and whoever else is in charge of Sinn Fein," he said. |
'Going into hiding' | 'Going into hiding' |
"Maybe not to live there, but maybe to come over for a wee holiday, or something like that. | "Maybe not to live there, but maybe to come over for a wee holiday, or something like that. |
"The only regrets I have are leaving all of my family behind me. | "The only regrets I have are leaving all of my family behind me. |
"I am suffering for it now. I have a heart complaint, I'm an alcoholic. You name it - I have all the psychological problems that go along with the things that I have done in the past." | "I am suffering for it now. I have a heart complaint, I'm an alcoholic. You name it - I have all the psychological problems that go along with the things that I have done in the past." |
Gilmour said he has not been back to his home city since going into hiding 25 years ago. | Gilmour said he has not been back to his home city since going into hiding 25 years ago. |
Mr Gilmour fled the city in 1982 after giving evidence against 35 republicans. | Mr Gilmour fled the city in 1982 after giving evidence against 35 republicans. |
Martin McGuinness said Mr Gilmour must decide for himself whether or not it was safe to return to Derry and that he was not under threat from Sinn Fein, nor - he believes - from the IRA. | Martin McGuinness said Mr Gilmour must decide for himself whether or not it was safe to return to Derry and that he was not under threat from Sinn Fein, nor - he believes - from the IRA. |
He said if exiles such as Gilmour wanted to return home, it was a matter for their own judgement and their ability to make peace with the community. | He said if exiles such as Gilmour wanted to return home, it was a matter for their own judgement and their ability to make peace with the community. |
The SDLP's Alex Attwood said personal safety for anyone who had been exiled should be guaranteed. | |
He said they were entitled to return and that there were "no conditions, no constraints, no objections laid on them". | |
"Everybody in the community must make sure there are no constraints, or restrictions laid on them," he said. |
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