A US judge ruled today that an Irish man convicted in connection with the brutal murder of two British corporals in Belfast over 16 years ago should not be deported back to Ireland.
Sean O'Cealleagh, from west Belfast, was jailed for aiding and abetting the violent killings of the soldiers, shot by IRA gunmen when their vehicle became caught up in an IRA funeral procession in March 1988.
Mr O'Cealleagh was one of three men sentenced to life in 1990 for his part in the murders.
The 35-year-old was freed from the Maze prison in 1998 under the Belfast Agreement's early prisoner release scheme. He moved to the States the following year and was granted permanent residency in 2001.
Mr O'Cealleagh has been remanded in a US Government detention centre since February 25th, as a US prosecutor sought his deportation back to Ireland for committing a crime of "moral turpitude".
But immigration Judge Rose Peters ruled today that his crime was "purely political", presenting no grounds for his removal from the US.
The decision was slammed as "disgraceful and despicable" by Ulster Unionist MP David Burnside.
"We have moved past the stage where terrorism is regarded as a political offence," he said.
Mr O'Cealleagh is being held at a processing centre and the government has 30 days to appeal. Ms Kice added: "We are reviewing the matter to see whether we can keep him in custody."
PA