Kelly quizzed by police over clamp removal
Mary Lou McDonald struggles to explain MLA’s actions Widespread calls for senior SinnFein man’ s resignation
SINN Fein policing spokesman Gerry Kelly tweeted last night that “no one can be above the law” after he was questioned by police about using bolt cutters to remove a wheel clamp from a car.
Mr Kelly (64) is facing calls to quit as an MLA after he was filmed taking off the clamp following a visit to a Belfast gym.
Earlier, Sinn Fein leader-in-waiting Mary Lou McDonald appeared lost for words when quizzed on the matter by reporters.
GERRY Kelly has said “no one is above the law” following a police interview in which he was questioned about using bolt cutters to remove a wheel clamp in Belfast.
The North Belfast Sinn Fein MLA is facing calls to resign and could be reported to Stormont’s standards watchdog after he was filmed taking off the clamp following a visit to a gym.
Last night Mr Kelly tweeted: “No one can be above the law. I made a voluntary arrangement to meet the police and met them today for interview.
“I want to get the issue resolved as soon as possible.”
Sinn Fein leader-in-waiting Mary Lou McDonald appeared lost for words when quizzed on the matter by reporters yesterday.
She said Mr Kelly’s solicitors were dealing with the issue, and she did not yet have “the facts of exactly what happened”.
Asked why Mr Kelly was carrying a set of bolt cutters, Ms McDonald laughed: “I have absolutely no idea.
“I have absolutely no clue why Gerry has a bolt cutter in his car.”
TUV leader Jim Allister, who is calling for former Policing Board member Mr Kelly to resign, said he would “explore” lodging a complaint with Stormont’s Office for the Commissioner for Standards.
However, with no commissioner in place, it is unclear what action, if any, can be taken.
Video footage of the incident, which occurred last Friday, shows Mr Kelly coming out of a silver car in Exchange Street, behind the Metropolitan Arts Centre.
On the driver’s window of the car is a large ‘Stop’ sign warning of the clamp.
The MLA is seen bending down to lift a set of bolt cutters, before appearing to work at a chain under the car. He then appears to remove the orange clamp from the vehicle’s righthand wheel, before resting it against a nearby wall.
The maximum sentence for criminal damage in Northern Ireland varies from a community order to 12 months in custody and a compensation order.
Mr Kelly’s actions were reported to the PSNI by the company that fitted the clamp, the Parking and Enforcement Agency (PEA).
A spokesman for the MAC said the area was “clearly marked as a no parking zone” with “signage in the area”.
Last night the PSNI said it had spoken to Mr Kelly. It said: “Police have interviewed a 64-year-old man at Musgrave Police Station in relation to an allegation of criminal damage which occurred at Exchange Street, Belfast, on Friday.”
Mr Allister said the Sinn Fein MLA “had no right” to remove the
clamp and must not get away with it.
“His audacious taking of the law into his own hands must not go unchallenged by the law enforcement agencies,” he said.
“Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on policing seems to think that he is above the law.
“A complaint can still be made to the Assembly’s Commissioner for Standards, even though it wouldn’t be activated until there was a commissioner is in place. I will be exploring putting in a complaint.
“I think he should do what Mr McElduff did and exit the public stage.” Posting on the South East Fermanagh Foun-
dation Facebook page, victims’ campaigner Kenny Donaldson described the incident as the “latest two fingers to law and order”.
And Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs also called on Mr Kelly to resign.
He said: “Gerry Kelly’s actions demonstrate contempt for private property and a complete lack of respect for rules that apply to the rest of us in Northern Ireland.
“He sets an appalling example. If this was to happen in any other part of the United Kingdom, or indeed the Republic, the relevant politician would be gone.”
Alliance’s Trevor Lunn, who sat on the Policing Board with Mr Kelly, said the MLA’s role as his party’s policing spokesperson added an “extra level of irony to the situation”.
“It seems very strange behaviour, particularly for an MLA who sat on the Policing Board,” he said.
“I have seen people reported to the Commissioner for Standards for less.
“It’s particularly silly for an elected member. I wonder what he thought he was playing at.”
“I will reserve judgment on whether he should step down to see what the outcome of the enquiries is.”
SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly said: “The law applies to everyone equally, and MLAs should have a higher standard of behaviour.
“I think there will be plenty of people lining up to report him to the Commissioner for Standards.”
Meanwhile, North Belfast DUP MP Nigel Dodds called for the Sinn Fein leadership to “finally take action” over Mr Kelly, after its handling of the recent Barry McElduff controversy.
“The Gerry Kelly incident is symptomatic of a wider pattern of behaviour by leading Sinn Fein figures,” he said.
“They regard themselves as not being bound by the same rules as the rest of society.
“They preach respect but show little or no respect for people, rules or laws which they disagree with. They preach equality but, to them, some are more equal than others.
“This is another significant test for the Sinn Fein leadership.”
Sinn Fein said that Mr Kelly had “returned to his car after an early morning gym session to find that his car had been made immobile by a clamp just after 7.20am”.
It added: “He removed the clamp from the front wheel.
“He left the device nearby and drove off to pre-arranged meetings. His solicitor is dealing with the matter and he will be making no further comment at this time.”
The Office of the Commissioner for Standards’ website says all complaints will be passed to the next commissioner “as soon as one is appointed by the Assembly”.