Killer of three fellow Irish soldiers to end sentence in Belfast

A former member of the Defence Forces who has been in jail for 25 years for the murder of three fellow soldiers in Lebanon is to be transferred from a prison in Dublin to a jail in his native Belfast to serve out the remainder of his life sentence.

The dead men's families and the Defence Forces staff representative association PDforra have criticised the transfer of Michael McAleavey, a former private, and have called on Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan to reconsider the move.

PDforra said it had always held the view that McAleavey should serve his full sentence in the Republic.

"His crimes relate to this jurisdiction and the many people so seriously affected by his crime live here. This announcement has been made on the eve of 25th anniversary of these murders, which is particularly insensitive to the families involved."

McAleavey, from west Belfast and now aged 47, will be transferred from Mountjoy Prison to Maghaberry Prison, near Lisburn, Co Antrim. The transfer, which he has long campaigned for, will take place under the Transfer of Persons Act, 1995.

It is understood Mr Lenihan did not object to the transfer on the grounds that McAleavey's elderly father is too ill to travel to visit him in Dublin.

Mr Lenihan is also believed to have been persuaded, having taken into account the length of time McAleavey has spent in prison. He is one of Ireland's longest-serving prisoners.

Once he is transferred to the North, McAleavey's release date will be taken out of the hands of the Irish State. Military sources in the Republic said they believed he would apply for release after being transferred. Originally from Rockville Street, Belfast, he joined the Irish Army in 1979 while a teenager after working for brief periods as a clerk and toolmaker in Belfast.

On joining the Army he was stationed with the Second Battalion at Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines, Dublin.

In October 1983, aged 22, he was among a deployment of Irish troops serving on United Nations peacekeeping duties in Lebanon.

He had been in the country one week when, on October 27th, he opened fire on three of his colleagues, fatally wounding them, as they were manning a checkpoint at Tibnin bridge in southern Lebanon.

The men who died were Cpl Gregory Morrow (20), Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin; Pte Peter Burke (20), Suir Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin; and Pte Thomas Murphy, Claremont Court, Glasnevin, Dublin.

McAleavey had became involved in a minor argument with his colleagues after Jews were allowed to pass the checkpoint without being searched. Known for his anti-Semitic views, he became agitated and opened fire on the three soldiers.