Army spy is moved to English jail
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.BRIAN NELSON, the former British soldier sentenced to 10 years' jail for terrorist offences in Northern Ireland, has been moved secretly to a prison in England, it was revealed yesterday.
Nelson, 44, who comes from Belfast, was transferred from his isolation cell at the top security Crumlin Road prison, Belfast, before Christmas.
Nelson, a senior intelligence officer with the Ulster Defence Association, was the army's most senior Protestant agent in Ulster. A Northern Ireland Office spokeswoman refused to discuss individual prisoners but security sources confirmed that Nelson had been moved.
When Nelson was sentenced earlier this year, further charges that he was involved in the murders of two Catholics were withdrawn after the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions decided that the prosecutions were 'not in the public interest'.
Nelson allegedly had told his security service handlers of plans to murder two Catholics, but the security officers had not acted on this information. The decision to withdraw the further charges outraged Catholic churchmen and nationalist politicians, and infuriated the Irish Government.
Home Office officials negotiated Nelson's switch to another jail. Nelson flew out of Belfast accompanied by guards from the security services. He had waited almost a year for transfer arrangements to be completed.
Nelson has told friends that, with remission for good behaviour and the amount of time spent in custody before going to jail, he expects to be freed by 1996.
Friends of Nelson said he was 'extremely relieved' at the move. 'There were a number of threats on his life,' one friend said. 'The IRA and the loyalists want him dead and he was never allowed contact with anybody, certainly no other prisoners.'
Nelson's wife and children have been living in England for two years.
Nelson was sentenced after admitting a string of charges, including five of plotting to kill Catholics suspected of being members of the IRA.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments