NI Conservatives’ spokesman, Mark Brotherston, has expressed ‘grave concerns’ about the sentence handed down to Marian Price, a convicted bomber and dissident republican, who was found guilty of playing a role in the murder of Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar.
“Marian Price was given a suspended sentence for dissident republican activities, including providing a mobile phone used during the horrific shootings at Massereene Barracks in Antrim back in 2009”, Mark explained. “Without wanting to second guess the judge, who provided a rationale, this sentence does seem lenient and his arguments were not convincing, considering the harm that the defendant has repeatedly done. The public prosecutor needs to consider appealing this decision. What message does freeing this woman send out to young people who might be condemned to a life of crime, through their involvement in dissident republican groups?”
“There is also the very important issue of justice for the families of Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar, who were gunned down in cold blood by Marian Price’s associates. They deserve the continued support of all right-minded people in Northern Ireland. Criminal sentencing is a complicated and difficult process at the best of times, but there must be grave concerns about a suspended sentence in this instance, for someone who was already a convicted bomber and a hardened terrorist. It raises serious questions about the message being sent out to people who might get involved in these organisations.”