by Megi RychlikovaTHE IRA terrorist who murdered a North Yorkshire special constable should stay in jail for the rest of his life and not join the paramilitary amnesty, say bereaved relatives.

The parents of Glenn Goodman will oppose any move to allow Paul Magee to be released early from the life sentence imposed seven years ago for shooting their son.

They say he was sentenced to life for murder, not terrorism, and should serve life.

Under the Northern Ireland peace agreement, announced yesterday, paramilitary prisoners who committed outrages such as the Brighton bombing and the Milltown cemetery massacre could be free in two years.

A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said only those convicted of "terrorist-related offences" would be released. As yet, it is unclear exactly what this means and whether Magee would qualify.

But Margaret Goodman, who was at the trial of her son's killer, stressed he should be treated as a murderer, not a terrorist."There will certainly be letters to Tony Blair if I discover that he will get out," she said. "The judge stressed that this man was on trial for murdering Glenn and for the shooting of Sandy Kelly. Terrorism was never mentioned."

Magee, now 50, gunned down Special Constable Goodman at point-blank range on the A64, near Tadcaster, and tried to kill his companion, PC Kelly, in June, 1992, after the officers stopped his car.

Both he and his accomplice, Michael O'Brien, were arrested a few days later.

Magee was convicted of murder and attempted murder. He was not charged with terrorist offences.

O'Brien, given 18 years at the same trial for attempting to murder two policemen, was moved to Northern Ireland last year. He could be out in three years even if he does not qualify for the amnesty.

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