Posted by Jim on February 28, 2019
Connla Young. Irish News. Belfast. Thursday, February 28, 2019
TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has called on the British government to do the “honorable” thing and hold a public inquiry into the loyalist murder of solicitor Pat Finucane.
He was speaking after the Supreme Court in London ruled a high-profile review into his death did not meet human rights obligations.
M.r Finucane (39) was gunned down in front of his family by a UDA murder squad, which included British state agents, in February 1989.
His family has fought a lengthy legal battle for a public inquiry, a campaign which culminated in yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling.
In 2011 former British prime minister David Cameron rejected calls for an inquiry and instead ordered Sir Desmond de Silva QC to carry out a review.
He found “shocking” levels of state collusion involving the British army, police and MI5 but ruled out an “overarching state conspiracy”.
Mr. Finucane’s widow Geraldine later described the 2012 report as a “whitewash”.
The Supreme Court has now ruled that the de Silva review was not compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which required the investigation to be provided with “the means where, if they can be, suspects are identified and, if possible, brought to account”.
Lord Kerr, who delivered the judgment, declared that there has not been an effective investigation into Mr. Finucane’s murder, but added: “It does not follow that a public inquiry of the type which [Mrs. Finucane ]seeks must be ordered.”
Speakinghonor its commitment to now carry out a public inquiry in accordance with the inquiries act, into the murder of Pat Finucane.”
He said the British government should keep a promise made by former prime minister Tony Blair at Weston Park in 2001 and accept the judgment made by the Supreme Court.
“It is the honorable thing to do, the right thing to do, and I believe the British government should do that,” he said.
“I will certainly be raising it in my meetings with the prime minister. I will be pressing my counterpart Theresa May to honor the commitment made by her forebear.”
A spokesman for Mrs. May said: “We recognize the suffering of Mrs. Finucane caused by the appalling murder of her husband.
“In 2012, the then prime minister apologized for the collusion which took place and which should never have happened.”
The spokesman said they are considering the judgment.
He added that the judgment “makes it clear that it is for the state to decide what form of investigation, if indeed any is now feasible, is required in order to meet the investigative requirements”.
Mrs. Finucane last night claimed the judgment was a “historic moment” and repeated the call for a public inquiry.
“I stand before you today outside the United Kingdom Supreme Court with one simple message ‘we have won’,” she said.
“My family negotiations and a long and difficult court case. We have had to overcome obstacles the likes of which no other family has faced.”
SDLP policing and justice spokeswoman Dolores Kelly, who backed a public inquiry, said: “Many families, like the Finucanes, who lost loved ones as a result of state collusion have been shamefully denied the truth for too long.”
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald also urged a public inquiry.
“The withholding of information on the part of the British government and the disregard shown to victims in the courts is a feature of many other cases also. This must stop,” she said.
DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson last night said: “We need to see a comprehensive and proportionate approach to dealing with the past.”
Posted by Jim on February 27, 2019
Fr. Sean McManus .
The Forum Letters from our readers.Washington, D.C. February 27-March 5,
Harping on gladly
Editor:
Ever since I came to the United States on October 2, 1972, I have raised the issue of injustice and oppression in Northern Ireland, the artificial area England (I say England not Britain, because we cannot really blame Wales and Scotland) carved out in 1920.
This new political entity had never been heard of before in the three thousand years of Irish history. It was based solely on a sectarian, anti-Catholic headcount in order for England to keep a foothold on the island of Ireland. England did this by brute power exercised through Protestant/Loyalist/Unionist supremacy, Anti-Catholic discrimination and a sectarian, all-Protestant police militia. The RUC, The B-Specials, and the UDR were routinely condemned by every human rights body that has investigated them.
The Irish National Caucus knew that essential for any progress – pending the re-unification of Ireland – would be the fundamental reform of the Northern Ireland police.
We lobbied the Congress relentlessly. When my good friend, the late and great Congressman Ben Gilman became chairman of the House International Relations Committee (now Foreign Affairs Committee, again) he kept his sacred promise to me: holding Congressional hearings on our MacBride Principles on March 15, 1995, and on creating a new and acceptable Police Service for Northern Ireland, April 22, 1999. In other words, congressional hearings on our two key issues, with Chairman Gilman insisting that I be the lead witness.
At the hearing on policing, I endorsed and quoted the fine words of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement: “They [the participants] believe that the agreement provides the opportunity for a new beginning to
Yet, despite that Good Friday Agreement quote, an article in the Irish News of Belfast declares: “Just 8 senior PSNI officers from Catholic background.”
Recently, there was an organized attempt by a few Irish Americans to get me to stop “harping about anti-Catholic injustice in Northern Ireland because it was counterproductive.”
Well, all my life the British government tried to stop my speaking out for equality, justice and peace in Ireland, and a handful of misguided, ill-informed Irish Americans are unlikely to stop this Fermanagh man.
No more than Jewish Americans will be forced to stop denouncing anti-Semitism in America or that African Americans will hold their tongue about anti-black racism. And they have my total support.
Posted by Jim on February 26, 2019
will take place on Sunday, March 3rd at 3 pm.
It will include a talk by Dr. Ruan O’Donnell of the University of Limerick and well-known author of numerous books on Irish history, including A Short History of Ireland’s Famine, Patrick Pearse: 16 Lives and Robert Emmet and the Rising of 1803. George McLaughlin, veteran activist and founder of the Fenian Memorial Committee of America will also speak. The title of Dr. O’Donnell’s talk will be “Without the Fenians…?” and will trace the development of the Fenians in Ireland and America and their influence on the struggle for Irish Independence, including the Easter Rising of 1916. Mr. McLaughlin will explain the work of the Fenian Memorial Committee of America, including its current campaign to erect a memorial stone at the grave of Father Patrick McCabe of, Arnaghan, Lough Gowna, Co. Cavan, who was instrumental in the escape of the great Fenian, John Boyle O’Reilly and six military Fenians from Fremantle Prison in Western Australia to America aboard the whaling vessel the Catalpa which sailed from New Bedford, Massachusetts to rescue them and bring them to New York, before they dispersed to different parts of the U.S.
All funds raised will go towards the memorial for Father McCabe, who is buried in the hamlet of St. Mary, on the outskirts of Waseca, Minnesota, where he fled to from Australia—with the help of Archbishop John Ireland (from Burnchurch, County Kilkenny)—and being the parish priest for mainly Irish immigrant farmers. The unveiling of the memorial stone and commemoration will take place on May 18, 2019 at St. Mary, Waseca.The event is set for the O’Lunney’s Times Square Pub, 145 West 45th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues and will run from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 3rd.There is a suggested donation of $20. For details call George McLaughlin at (401) 688-2463 or email him at seoirse49@gmail.com Donations in checks made out to George McLaughlin can also be mailed to: Fenian Memorial Committee of America, att: George McLaughlin, 127 Sinclair Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 or via PayPal using fenianmca@gmail.com as the email address. Donors will receive a receipt from George McLaughlin.
Posted by Jim on
FIREHOUSE KITCHEN TALK WITH THE FDNY FIELD COMMUNICATIONS UNIT
Join Friends of Firefighters (199 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231) on Wednesday, February 27, from 6:00-9:00 PM, for a firefighter-prepared dinner followed by a presentation from Lt. John Acritani, Fire Dispatcher Bill Ladell, and Supervising Fire Dispatcher Kevin Trudden on the history of the FDNY Field Communications Unit, its function today and how its members work at multiple alarm fires. This event is free for active and retired FDNY members. No RSVP necessary. Come hungry!
CSU MARCH QUARTERLY GATHERING
The Counseling Service Unit of the FDNY will hold their March Quarterly Gathering on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at 251 Lafayette Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10012. Coffee and bagels at 10:00 AM, 12 Step Meeting at 11:00 AM and Lunch at 12:00 PM. The event is sponsored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. To RSVP, call 212-925-6671 and leave a message on Ext. 395. Bring a friend, all are welcome.
HOLY NAME SOCIETY HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP DRAWING
The Holy Name Society (Manhattan, Bronx, Staten Island) will hold a Higher Education Scholarship Drawing at their annual Communion Breakfast on Sunday, April 28. This Higher Education Scholarship shall consist of two $1,500 awards, gender neutral, payable to any college or trade school of the winner’s choice. Members must be in good standing and be PRESENT at the Breakfast to have their children eligible for the drawing. All sons and daughters, brothers and sisters and grandchildren of members in good standing of the Holy Name Society in their twelfth year of education (must be graduating from high school in June 2019) are eligible for the award. This also applies equally to deceased members who were in good standing at time of death. Applications can be obtained at fdnyholynamesociety.com or by emailing wm519@msn.com. Completed applications should be mailed to Scholarship Chairman William Meade, PO BOX 525, Maspeth, NY 11378. Applications must be submitted by April 21, 2019.
MSKCC MALE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH STUDY
With the recent publicity of a NYC localized cluster of patients diagnosed with male breast cancers, the breast cancer clinical team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) has developed a research program for patients with male breast cancer, with an emphasis on identifying those patients who may have been exposed to Ground Zero at the World Trade Center. They are seeking patients to volunteer for their “Make-An-IMPACT” research initiative. By participating, you will be able to undergo cancer genomic testing for free. To participate, please visit the website below and their clinical team will contact you. Research into rare cancers is highly dependent on patients, so MSKCC thanks you for considering to participate! Sign Up: https://www.mskcc.org/research-programs/molecular-oncology/make-impact-volunteer-form. Contact Make-An-IMPACT Staff for questions and more: Bernadette Wolff, RN at 1-646-888-3886 or wolffb@mskcc.org.
Posted by Jim on
Connla Young. Irish News. Belfast. Tuesday, February 26, 2019
THE British government has been accused of sitting on cash for high profile Troubles inquests after it emerged a Stormont department approved a business plan.
Concerns have been raised about continued delays in releasing money.
The government previously said funding would not be released until agreement is reached on all legacy issues.
It also said it had it had not received a request “for funding for this in terms of the executive”.
The Conservative government has a supply and confidence agreement with the DUP – which in the past has failed to request inquest cash.
Following a judicial review in Belfast last year judge Sir Paul Girvan said former first minister Arlene Foster’s decision not to consider bidding was flawed and unlawful.
A £150 million pot was allocated to deal with inquests as part of the Stormont House Agreement.
There are more than 50 outstanding inquests with many involving people killed by the security forces and as a result of suspected collusion with loyalists.
It has now emerged that the Department of Finance approved a business case for legacy inquest funding last October.
Details emerged after British government officials made a recent submission to the Committee of Ministers in Europe.
In a statement to the committee it said: “In the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive, the UK Government and Department of Finance are working together on the NI budget for 2019-20.”
A new business case was developed by the Department for Justice in conjunction with other key organisations last year after the High Court ruled last March that legacy inquests should not be dependent on securing agreement on wider legacy issues.
The judicial review was taken by Brigid Hughes, whose husband Anthony was shot dead by the SAS at Loughgall, in Co Armagh, in May 1987.
She challenged the delay in providing funding, which she said was a breach of her human rights.
Daniel Holder, Deputy Director of the Committee on the Administration of Justice, said: “It now turns out that they have been sitting on such a bid for months.
“Funding these inquests is an international human rights obligation and families have waited long enough, vague words about next year’s budget are not enough, the UK needs to act now.”
Sinn Féin legacy spokeswoman Linda Dillon said: “The funding is easy for them, all they have to do is give the money over.”
SDLP Policing spokeswoman Dolores Kelly said the continued lack of funding was “outrageous”.
Solicitor Darragh Mackin said: “We have taken steps on behalf of our clients to ensure that this order is complied with, and complied with in the near future.”
A Northern Ireland Office spokeswoman last night said: “Management of the coronial inquest system is a devolved matter so it remains for NI departments to take decisions on how to allocate funding. The UK government continues to support reform to the legacy inquest system.”