“I remembered that the gym had a set of bolt cutters.”
Sinn Féin’s policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly LMA has explained the circumstances behind him forcibly removing a clamp from his car with a pair of bolt cutters.
Footage surfaced over the weekend of Kelly removing a clamp from his car on Friday morning, prompting Sinn Féin to issue a statement confirming that he had done so and that his solicitor was dealing with the matter.
On Monday afternoon, Kelly himself issued a statement on the matter, saying that he made two failed attempts to contact the clamping company before forcibly removing the clamp and that the issue has now been resolved.
“I came out of the gym just after 8am to head to Stormont for talks,” Kelly said.
“I saw that my car had been clamped.
“I phoned the number on the notice and the only response I got was music.
“I then went in to the Mac and asked had they another number for the company.
“I immediately rang that number and this number was out of use.
“I was under pressure to get to the talks meetings
“I remembered that the gym had a set of bolt cutters and I borrowed them.
”Let me add that staff at the gym were not aware what I was using the bolt cutters for.
“I then removed the clamp.
“I made an on-the-spot decision which was I now regret.
“I have contacted the company and paid the fine. The issue has now been resolved.”
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