Ex-IRA prisoner sees early release licence suspended
‘The secretary of state’s priority is the safety of the people of Northern Ireland – Northern Ireland Office spokesperson.
A FORMER IRA prisoner facing charges connected to a gun attack has had his early release licence suspended by the Secretary of State Theresa Villiers.
Thomas (Ta) McWilliams (47), from North Belfast, is on remand in Maghaberry Prison after being charged with attempting to murder police and possession of an assault rifle with intent of endanger life. The charges arose out of a gun attack on police during rioting in Ardoyne on July 12 last year when a number of shots were fired.
McWilliams had previously served seven years in jail for killing Norman Truesdale (39) in March 1993. He was released on licence in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Truesdale was shot dead in his shop in the Oldark Road in North Belfast. The IRA later said he was a member of a loyalist paramilitary organisation – a claim denied by his family. A UDA mural in his memory was later painted on a gable wall in the area.
During a court hearing last year it emerged that police believe McWilliams drove a car containing the gun used in the attack away from the scene. A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Office said Ms Villes suspended McWilliam’s release licence “on the basis of information presented to her indicting that he has breached the conditions attached to his licence, including the condition that he must not become a danger to the public”.
“Mr McWilliam’s case will now be reviewed by the independant sentence reveiw commissioners who will determine whether to revoke or reinstate his licence,” she said. “The secretary of state’s priority is the safety of the people of Northern Ireland. The government will not hesitate to the use all the powers at its disposal under the law to counter the residual terrorist threat.”
