25 July 2001

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Anger at Maginnis human rights move

Sinn Fein spokesperson on Equality Conor Murphy MLA has reacted angrily to the news that former UDR Major Ken Maginnis has been short-listed for a job as a Human Rights Commissioner.

Mr. Murphy said:

``The revelation that Ken Maginnis has been short-listed for a role as a Human Rights Commissioner will cause deep anger within the nationalist community. Mr. Maginnis was a senior member of the UDR, an organisation which existed to attack the human rights on an entire community. The actions of the UDR are well documented and of course even embarrassed the British government into disbanding this unionist militia.

``One of the key faults with the current Commission is the under representation of nationalists amongst its commissioners. How the British government expect to instil confidence amongst the nationalist community in the Human Rights Commission by appointing Ken Maginnis is beyond me.

``Such an appointment would bring the credibility of the entire Commission into question.''

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