19 December 2000

Latest Update on the Peter McBride case. 

In Belfast's High Court today (19 December 2000) a preliminary hearing  of the judicial review of the Army Board's decision to retain the two  Scots Guards was adjourned until February 5, 2001. 

At the hearing  solicitors for the McBride family were told that the Army Board needed  time to prepare its case. The hearing came soon after the McBride family received a letter from  British Secretary of State for Defence, Geoffrey Hoon, turning down  their request for a meeting to discuss the Army Board's decision. 

The  reason cited was that "Mrs McBride has been given a copy of the Board's  determination, which details the exceptional reasons why the decision  was taken to retain the two Guardsmen in the Army. In these circumstances, I believe that nothing further would be gained, by  holding a meeting at this time to discuss the Army Board's decision" A transcript of the relevant sections of the Army Board's decision can  be accessed at www.serve.com/pfc 

Meanwhile British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Peter  Mandelson came in for a shock as he went to visit a secondary school  just yards from where Peter McBride was murdered in the New Lodge= district of Belfast. Instead of the expected polite smiles, handshakes and pleasantries, the Secretary of State was greeted by a group of  people protesting about the Peter McBride case who tried to speak to  him. As the protesters demanded justice be administered, Peter Mandelson  was bundled by his security entourage into the building, and a protester  was physically removed by special branch.