Life Sentence Review Commission deny Brendan Lillis release

There’s an ongoing campaign for the release of former Provisional IRA member, Brendan Lillis, on compassionate grounds.  But the BBC report that the Life Sentence Review Commission have just confirmed the Prison Service’s view that there were not sufficient grounds to justify his release.  From the BBC report

Republican prisoner Brendan Lillis will not be released on compassionate grounds, the Life Sentence Review Commission has decided.

Mr Lillis, who suffers from a severe arthritic condition, was sentenced to life in 1977 on explosives charges.

The 59-year-old served almost 16 years of that sentence before being released on licence in 1993.

Secretary of State Shaun Woodward revoked this in 2009 after Mr Lillis was re-arrested on robbery charges.

The reason given was that he was “a danger to the public” and was told he would have to serve the rest of his original life sentence at Maghaberry Prison.

Earlier this year, it was decided Mr Lillis was too ill to stand trial, although he could face charges if his health improves.

According to their press release, Sinn Féin’s Jennifer McCann is meeting Northern Ireland Justice Minister, David Ford, tomorrow and will be “raising this case and pressing on David Forde [sic] the need for Brendan Lillis’ immediate release”.

Of course, the actual decision-making power on former terrorists released on licence lies elsewhere…

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