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September 24, 2007

McAllister's Mother Appeals for Her Son

News About Ireland & The Irish

BT 09/24/07 Mum Begs: Let My Son Stay In US

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http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-
national/article2993574.ece

Mum Begs: Let My Son Stay In US

[Published: Monday 24, September 2007 - 07:42]

By Stephen Breen

The mother of a former republican prisoner facing
deportation from America has expressed fears for her son's
future.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph from her south Belfast
home last night, Ellen McAllister told how she pleaded with
the US government to allow her son, Malachy, and two of his
children, Sean and Nicola, to remain in New Jersey.

The father-of-four fled his Ormeau Road home in 1998 after
a Red Hand Commando gang came within inches of killing his
family.

Mrs McAllister issued her plea after the Irish American
Unity Conference lobby group claimed the family's
deportation was "imminent".

The 77-year-old, who has just returned from a six-week trip
to the United States, said the final decision on her son's
deportation now rests with senators there.

She claimed her son's family would be "ripped apart" if he
was forced to return to Belfast.

Mrs McAllister said: "My son is no threat to anyone. What
crimes have my two grandchildren committed?

"I can't believe this is happening and I just hope the
politicians allow him to remain in America.

" He hasn't been able to scatter his wife's ashes because
he doesn't know where he's going to be in a few weeks time.
We hope to know soon one way or the other what's going to
happen.

"It will break his heart to bring only two of his children
back to Belfast because they will have to start all over
again.

"He has been making a positive contribution to America and
should be allowed to continue the life that he has led for
the last 20 years."

The ex-prisoner told how he had "exhausted" the judicial
process in his bid to remain in the United States.

Malachy said: "It's now just a case of waiting to see if
the senators can get legislation through which will allow
my family to remain in the US.

"This is a humanitarian issue. My kids grew up in America
and they don't know anything different. They are being
affected by a circumstance which is completely out of their
control."

McAllister (50), who has met with former US President Bill
Clinton to discuss case, was jailed in the 1980s after
being implicated by republican supergrass Harry
Kirkpatrick.

© Belfast Telegraph
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