SEAN Kelly, the only person convicted over the Shankill bombing, has claimed he a victim of "political policing" in the wake of his recent arrest over the murder of Conor McKee in north Belfast.
The 42-year-old, who was convicted for his part in the 1993 IRA bomb atrocity, last night revealed he had met with the dead man’s family to tell them he played no part in his death.
Kelly was arrested at his home in north Belfast last week and questioned about Mr McKee's murder. He was later released without charge.
In his only interview since his arrest the Ardoyne republican claimed he had was a the victim of “political policing” and reaffirmed his support for the peace process.
He claimed he is being singled out for attention by elements within the PSNI opposed to the peace process and believes his arrest is connected to attempts to have his early release licence revoked.
“They are trying to create a pattern, create a hype around it, that if they do go for it in their view they have justification,” he said.
His solicitor Seamus Delaney confirmed on Tuesday night he is considering legal action and has written to PSNI chief constable George Hamilton.
The solicitor said no evidence was put to his client during five interviews at Musgrave Street PSNI station last week.
Mr McKee (31) was blasted with a shotgun in the bedroom of his parents home in Glenpark Street in Oldpark in January in a suspected paramilitary attack.
He suffered from a heroin addiction and was on bail for drug offences the time of his death.
Kelly was released from prison in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement after being jailed for life for his part in the Shankill Road bomb in October 1993 which claimed the lives of nine civilians.
The dead included: John Frizzel (63), George Williamson (63), Gillian Williamson (49), Sharon McBride (29), Michael Morrison (27), Evelyn Baird (27), Michelle Baird (7), Leanne Murray (13) and Wilma McKee (38).
Thomas Begley, an IRA man who was with Kelly when the bomb went off prematurely. also died in the blast.
In 2005 Kelly had his early release licence revoked and was returned to prison after claims he was involved in rioting. Sinn Féin insisted he was trying to stop trouble.
He has also been arrested several times in recent years.
He was questioned in 2013 after a teenager was shot in Ardoyne and last year was arrested about the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan in east Belfast.
On each occasion he was released without charge.
Speaking on Tuesday, Kelly revealed his has met with Conor McKee’s family who he said told him they were "disgusted" at his arrest.
“I have also spoken to the McKee family and they fully accept that I had no involvement whatsoever in their son’s killing,” he said.
The republican believes he is being deliberately singled out and claimed “there is a clear anti-peace process element operating within the PSNI”.
“This is also being used by elements within the PSNI in order to create a crisis in the peace process and tensions in the local community,” he said.
“Questions remain, who really is pulling the strings?
“As recently experienced not a shred of evidence was produced during questioning.”
He said his treatment raises questions.
“It’s political policing at its worst and there are more questions than answers,” he said.
“This is a complete and utter onslaught on me personally and the process.
“It’s bigger than me, I am just a pawn in this and that’s my full view on it.”
The north Belfast man said he is a strong supporter of the peace process.
“I have been a defender of the peace process since I was released from jail and this is well known in republican communities and everybody knows my position.”
“My position on the peace process has seen me rearrested and returned to jail in 2005. That was also used as a tool and mechanism against the republican movement.”
During a 2013 commemoration for Thomas Begley Kelly said he was “truly sorry for the loss of life and the injuries suffered that day and the sufferings the families have endured”.
After his recent arrest unionists called for his early release licence to be revoked.
Kelly believes any focus on the bomb is being “used as a political football to create difficulties in the peace process”.
“The PSNI approach is not about investigating killings or getting the truth for the families affected,” he said.
“They don’t care about the families, they are trying to create a focus on me.”
Kelly said he will continue to work for republican ex prisoners and the "wider republican family" and said he remains "very strong and will not be deterred” by recent events.
The father-of-five said the continued attention and regular arrests have a negative impact on his family “whose lives are turned upside down each time I am targeted".
His solicitor Seamus Delaney revealed he has three other clients that the PSNI have asked to present themselves for questioning about the killing of Mr McKee.
They have declined on the solicitor’s advice.
“Sean Kelly was not given that opportunity,” he said.
“There is no more evidence against him than there was against the other three which is why they were not arrested.
“He was arrested simply because of his profile.”
Mr Delaney said the PSNI had proof that his client was not involved in the McKee murder prior to his arrest.
“The police had in their possession for weeks solid concrete proof that Sean Kelly was not involved in this because they seized the CCTV from his place of work which shows Sean at work,” he said.
He also believes attempts may be made to revoke his clients licence.
“I am in no doubt there is a pattern and that pattern is designed to revoke Sean’s licence.”
In a statement on Tuesday night, Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway, said: “In the immediate aftermath of Conor’s murder we said we believed it was a drugs-related attack and that republican paramilitaries featured among our main lines of enquiry.
"That remains the position and we will go where the evidence takes us.
"I would again appeal to anyone with information about Conor’s murder to come forward to police.”
