Irish republican who admitted killing British soldier sentenced to life in prison

Irish republican gets life for killing soldier

LONDON — An Irish republican who confessed to being involved in the 1992 killing of a British army recruiter was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday

Declan Duffy, 36, pleaded guilty to murder in Stafford Crown Court in central England. He is a former leader of the Irish National Liberation Army, which broke away from the Irish Republican Army and was responsible for some of the most outrageous attacks in the Northern Ireland conflict before renouncing violence last year.

Duffy admitted his involvement in killing Sgt. Michael Newman outside an army recruiting office in the central England city of Derby. Three men were allegedly involved in the attack, and prosecutors say they don’t know whether it was Duffy or another suspect who fired the gun that killed Newman.

Duffy, known as “Whacko,” said last year he had decided to speak to police about the killing after he renounced his membership in the INLA.

“I would never have spoken to the police in the past, but my war is over and there are things I have to get off my chest,” Duffy said in court.

“This man was a family man, and it is regrettable that he was killed. I would be happy to meet with any member of his family to explain to them the circumstances of why soldiers at that time were being targeted.”

Judge Julia Macur set a minimum term of 24 years before Duffy could be considered for release.

INLA member Joseph Magee, who said he was the driver for the gunman, was jailed in 2004 after admitting his role. He has since been released. Another INLA man, Anthony Gorman, is fighting extradition from the Irish Republic.