The sister of a Belfast man shot dead by two British soldiers will promote her family's campaign to get them dismissed by standing in a Westminster by-election, it was revealed today.
Kelly McBride, of North Belfast, is expected to lodge nomination papers today for the Brent East election in London later in the month.
Her teenage brother John McBride was shot in the back in Belfast in 1992. Guardsmen Mark Wright and John Fisher were convicted of murdering him and sentenced to life imprisonment three years later.
They were released in 1998 and allowed to rejoin the army, where they remain despite a five-year campaign to have them kicked out.
As she set off for London, Ms McBride said her decision to stand was prompted by the decision to allow the two men to remain in the army. She said she wanted to bring her argument "right to the heart of the political debate in Britain".
In a message to the voters of Brent East, she said: "I know little of the day-to-day problems you face. I don't expect to win this election, but by standing I hope to win justice.
"If a major can be expelled for cheating on a game show, why should convicted murderers be kept in the army and even promoted?"
She will be accompanied to Brent Town Hall to lodge her nomination papers by John Kelly of the Bloody Sunday families and by comedian and political commentator Jeremy Hardy.
Last night Belfast's SDLP Lord Mayor Martin Morgan was censured by the city's council for refusing to have dealings with Northern Ireland Office Minister John Spellar - a decision he took because of the minister's past involvement in the affair of the two soldiers.
While in his previous job as a defence minister, Mr Spellar sat on the board which allowed Fisher and Wright to remain in the army.
The Democratic Unionist motion condemning Mr Morgan was passed by 24 votes to 16.
Mr Morgan said he would not be making a U-turn following the vote, but would keep his decision under constant review.