AOH/LAOH Fact Finders to visit Ireland

Posted by Jim on April 13, 2022

The Irish Echo By Ray O’Hanlon

Fifty members of the Ancient Order of Hibernianswill begin a ten-day fact-finding mission to the north ofIreland on Tuesday, April 19.The mission will include what a release describedas “crucial talks with legacy victims’ relatives onpending British amnesty measures,” as well as briefings with Irish party leaders and Irish government representatives.Stated the release: “The delegation, which includessenior national officers from both the Ancient Orderof Hibernians (AOH) and Ladies Ancient Order ofHibernians (LAOH), will also present more than$100,000 in Freedom for all Ireland grants from theHouben Centre located on the grounds of Holy CrossChurch Ardoyne.”The fact-finding mission follows one month after Hibernians spearheaded the passage of House Resolution888, in which Congress said it ‘Opposes any attempt bythe British Government to implement amnesty orstatute of limitation laws that would end or inhibit investigations and prosecutions of crimes committedduring the Troubles, including on Bloody Sunday.’In Tyrone, the release continued, “Hibernians willjourney to the Battery Bar Ardboe where Americancitizen Liam Ryan was murdered by off-duty members of the British Army’s Ulster Defense Regimenton November 29, 1989.”Here they will join with family and friends of thelong time Bronx resident to launch a special Relativesfor Justice case study in collusion in this murder, andcall for an Ombudsman Report on the Royal UlsterConstabulary’s failure to investigate.”The delegation will also meet Relatives for Justice,EALU (Escape), an organization supporting ex-prisoners and Tyrone National Graves. Well known IrishRepublicans like Gerry McGeough, Malachy McAllister and John Crawley will also be speaking to thedelegation.” travel to Belfast and visit the scene ofthe Springhill-Westrock Massacre,”where on July 9th 1972, British troopers following a ceasefire, shot five people including Catholic priest Fr. NoelFitzpatrick, Paul Butler, Margaret Gargan 13, John Dougal 16, and David McCafferty 16. Their families have waitedyears for a new inquest, which is nowthreatened by new British amnesty proposals.”This will be followed by a fulloverview of legacy issues from familyrepresentatives of the New Lodge 6,victims named in recent Ombudsmanfindings from South Belfast and CountyDerry killings, and Plastic Bulletkillings of children.The Hibernians will also receive a presentation from veteran Irish Republicans,Tom Hartley, Fra McCann, Bik McFarlane, Joe Austin and Danny Morison.Continued the release: “One of the keyevents of the tour will be the presentations of more than $100,000 dollars inFreedom for all Ireland grants to 15 approved applicants. The presentationswill be made during a live webinarfrom the Houben Centre, despite thefact that loyalists recently disrupted apeace lecture by Irish Tanaiste and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.”The Hibernians will spend their finaltwo days in Dublin, where they will receive a briefing from Sinn Fein Partyleader Mary Lou McDonald, an updateon the Ireland’s Future campaign fromSenators Francis Black and Niall Donnghaile, and additionally receive abriefing by officials from the Irish Department of Foreign Service.Hibernians are also arranging briefings with senior party representativesfrom Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in advance of the Irish visit, said the release..Author Robert Collins and ProfessorRuan O’Donnell will provide the delegation a special preview of a new booktitled ‘Noraid and the Northern IrelandTroubles 1970-94,’ which is expected toexamine a key chapter in Irish American history, including the role and impact of AOH, during this period ofconflict.AOH Freedom-for all-Ireland ChairMartin Galvin said: “The fight for Irishlegacy justice is at a critical point. TheAOH and other Irish American organizations are believed to have played acrucial role in delaying the British proposals for an amnesty whitewash.However Britain’s plans to take awaybasic rights to Inquests, OmbudsmanInvestigations and civil action are stillon the table.“Victims’ relatives fear that Britainmay impose this new injustice soonafter the Stormont elections are over.We are bringing a high level AOH/LAOH delegation to the north to highlight American support for thosefighting for legacy truth.”It is crucial now more than ever thatwe bring the facts back across Americaand do more nationally to supportthose still denied justice and freedom.”