FIRST MINISTER and DUP leader Peter Robinson has held talks with the sister of an IRA murder victim over the controversial appointment of her killer as a Stormont adviser.
Mary Travers, a 23-year-old primary school teacher, was shot dead as she left Mass in south Belfast in April 1984. Her father, magistrate Tom Travers, was shot six times but survived.
Mary McArdle was convicted for her role in the murder and sentenced to life but was released under the Belfast Agreement.
Last month she was appointed a special adviser to new Minister for Culture, Sinn Féin’s Carál Ní Chuilín, prompting strong criticism from the murder victim’s sister, Ann Travers and others.
Following yesterday’s private talks between Mr Robinson and Ms Travers, the DUP released a statement which confirmed the meeting had taken place.
“The meeting took place at DUP headquarters this afternoon,” the statement said.
“The appointment of Mary McArdle as a special adviser at the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has caused further hurt to the Travers family.
“Mr Robinson has already said that the appointment was insensitive and a mistake. Following the meeting, the First Minister has asked the Finance Minister, Sammy Wilson, to undertake a review of the process for the appointment of special advisers. The Finance Minister has agreed to take this forward.”
However, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said the appointment will not be reconsidered. However, he said he understood how the feelings of the Travers family were hurt by the news of Ms McArdle’s appointment. The murder was “wrong” and “should never have happened”, he said.
His comments go beyond those made by Ms McArdle herself in an interview in this week's Andersonstown Newsin Belfast.
In the only interview given to a media outlet to date, she said the killing was a “tragic mistake”.
“I regret that it happened,” she said.
Ms Travers said last night there is a role for Sinn Féin and for former prisoners in the new political institutions. “But it has to be done with sensitivity and respect for the victim.
“Sometimes I feel that we are just expected to roll over.”