Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney MLA has welcomed the release of native American rights activist Leonard Peltier.

The South Antrim MLA said:

“I welcome the release of native American rights activist Leonard Peltier; this has been a long awaited decision.

“At 80 years of age, Leonard Peltier is one of the longest serving political prisoners in the world having served nearly fifty years in US federal custody.

“Leonard’s refusal to be criminalised for five decades is a testament to his unbreakable spirit and resilience.

“Despite being a victim of a great miscarriage of justice, Leonard’s commuted sentence now allows him to serve the remainder of his sentence at home.

“This decision came as a result of lobbying by campaigners in the US and across the international community, including leaders like Nelson Mandela, over many decades. All of their efforts deserve to be recognised.

“The release of Leonard Peltier has mitigated a great injustice and a stain on the US judicial system.”