Northern Ireland

Malachy McAllister vows to continue campaign to live in the USA

Malachy McAllister (centre) at Belfast High Court with Mark Thompson RFJ (left) and solicitor Niall Murphy. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Malachy McAllister (centre) at Belfast High Court with Mark Thompson RFJ (left) and solicitor Niall Murphy. Picture by Hugh Russell. Malachy McAllister (centre) at Belfast High Court with Mark Thompson RFJ (left) and solicitor Niall Murphy. Picture by Hugh Russell.

A BELFAST republican deported form the US this week after a long running battle has spoken of his desire to return to his adopted homeland.

Ormeau Road native Malachy McAllister (62) was speaking days after he handed himself over to officials from the US Department of Homeland Security in New Jersey.

After being held overnight in a detention centre he was placed on a plane and arrived back in Ireland on Wednesday.

His campaign to remain in the US has previously received backing from high profile Irish Americans and other political and religious figures.

Mr McAllister was sentenced to seven years for his part in an INLA attack on an RUC man in Belfast in 1981.

He was released in 1985.

In 1988 he emigrated with his family to Canada after his home was raked with gunfire in a Red Hand Commando attack.

Prominent loyalist Winston 'Winkie' Rea has since been charged with his attempted murder, and other offences, in a case mentioned at Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday.

After being denied asylum in Canada McAllister, his wife Bernadette and four children moved to the US in 1996.

His wife died in the US in 2004.

During his time in America Mr McAllister has been a strong supporter of the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking last night the Belfast man said he “was not a threat to the administration” but that president Donald Trump had taken a “different direction”.

“At this stage he wanted to make a statement and they are part of stringing together the Good Friday Agreement.

“In this respect they threw a wrench into the works in deporting me.”

He said that during his time abroad he led a trouble free life.

"It's 32 years since I left Ireland, that's a long time," he said.

"During those 32 years I have not committed one single crime in the countries I was in."

He said that he has been forced to part from some of his children and grandchildren who remain in the states and that the entire episode has been stressful.

“Everyone has been under stress for a number of years but in particular for the last four years,” he said

“You are going day to day, week to week.

“It certainly was at a point where I had to seek medical and psychological attention because of the stress placed on me.”

He said that being forced to return to the north means he has had to consider his personal security.

“Should there be any unrest in the forseeable future with Brexit I would be extremely concerned about my circumstances and that I would be targetted by this organisation.”

Mr McAllister remains hopeful that he will be reunited with his family in America.

“I am going to persevere and I hope at some point in the future I will be allowed to visit them,” he said.

“That's the end of the second chapter, now I am into the third chapter and we will see what happens.”

His solicitor Niall Murphy of KRW Law said his client has been a “responsible advocate for the Good Friday Agreement in America”.

Mark Thompson from Relatives For Justice said he was hopeful Mr McAllister would be allowed to return to the US to visit his children and grandchildren.

Prominent AOH member Martin Galvin last night said there have already been calls for the decision to deport to be reversed.

“Malachy has multiple grounds which should have entitled him to a full legal permanent residence under American law,” he said.