Our new friends from the Irish Philadephia have sent videos and photos of the event in Philadelphia. http://www.irishphiladelphia.com
They have put us on YouTube!
The links are as follows:
Raymond McCord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNDAGq5L8d4
Paul McIlwaine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4N5kSNcUIs
Clara Reilly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrjR7zvFmeI
Mark Thompson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWGss84KofI
Mark Thompson & Raymond McCord
http://flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/427631404/
Mark Thompson with cards
http://flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/427631401/
Mark Thompson
http://flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/427631396/
Theresa Slane, Clara Reilly and Pauline Davey
http://flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/427631394/
Sean Pender
http://flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/427630373/
Paul McIlwaine
http://flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/427630371/
Raymond McCord, Paul McIlwaine & Malachy McAllister
http://flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/427630370/
Raymond McCord
http://flickr.com/photos/irishphiladelphia/427630366/
We all look a bit tired but as can be seen, the discussion was very indepth and covered a lot of important ground. There is no substitute for people hearing first hand the issues and the experiences of people.
Also pictured is Sean Pender from the AOH National Executive, his work along with Mike Glass, this week was faultless.
Both of these men came to Belfast the week of the publication of the Ombudsman's Report into the killing of Rayond McCord jnr and we all decided that we should get this visit organised. The burden of work lay with them and they did a tremendous job. Go Raibh Míle Maith Agaibh.
Tuesday 20 March 2007
Monday 19 March 2007
19th March 2007
Today we head for home. We know that a lot of good work has been done but it feels like just the start.
There are a number of things we need to chew over.
Not least was the reception Paul and Raymond got from Unionist political representatives.
Back home both of them are treated as pariahs - "traitors". For our first two days in Washington that is exactly how they continued to be treated. But the impact of the Realtives for Justice delegation was significant and by Day 3 the atmosphere changed. Unionist politicians started to listen to what the men had to say and to acknowledge that there are issues which need to be addressed.
Paul McIlwaine met with Ian Paisley jnr who has said he wants Paul to meet with David Simpson MP for Paul's area when he is back home. He acknowledged that Paul was treated badly at St Andrews when he was verbally abused by Sammy Wilson MP and Jefferey Donaldson MP when Paul tried to raise his son's case with them. Mr Paisley reckons he would not have handled the situation like that. Well there is no reason whatsoever to doubt Mr Paisley's word. He told Paul that he came into politics because of his passion for the upholding of human rights. His first campaign was on behalf of the UDR 4 and this has never left him.
In the British Embassy Danny Kennedy UUP MLA for South Armagh also told Paul that he believed his treatment by Unionist representatives was wrong and that he wants to meet with Paul when they are all home.
A Process of Acknowledgement is a vital part of transition for families and communities who have endured the worst of our conflict.
That acknowledgement will be for more than just the bare violation of the person's right to life. It will be for everything that accompanied it - the systemic cover-ups, the lies, the propoganda and the denial of the dignity of humanity to those left violated and bereaved.
Very many will have to be part of providing this acknowledgement - the actors to the conflict, the politicians, the governments, state agencies, the churches.
But in Washington we saw how by providing a positive space in which the victims of the conflict are treated with equality and respect, processes of acknowledgement can begin. This is one of the ways that international intervention can be so vitally effective at this stage of our transition.
We hope that this good will can travel to our own shores and that promises made will bear fruit. Both of these public representatives are recognised as being men of integrity in their own right. We look forward to a new engagement with unionist politicans on these issues.
Today we head for home. We know that a lot of good work has been done but it feels like just the start.
There are a number of things we need to chew over.
Not least was the reception Paul and Raymond got from Unionist political representatives.
Back home both of them are treated as pariahs - "traitors". For our first two days in Washington that is exactly how they continued to be treated. But the impact of the Realtives for Justice delegation was significant and by Day 3 the atmosphere changed. Unionist politicians started to listen to what the men had to say and to acknowledge that there are issues which need to be addressed.
Paul McIlwaine met with Ian Paisley jnr who has said he wants Paul to meet with David Simpson MP for Paul's area when he is back home. He acknowledged that Paul was treated badly at St Andrews when he was verbally abused by Sammy Wilson MP and Jefferey Donaldson MP when Paul tried to raise his son's case with them. Mr Paisley reckons he would not have handled the situation like that. Well there is no reason whatsoever to doubt Mr Paisley's word. He told Paul that he came into politics because of his passion for the upholding of human rights. His first campaign was on behalf of the UDR 4 and this has never left him.
In the British Embassy Danny Kennedy UUP MLA for South Armagh also told Paul that he believed his treatment by Unionist representatives was wrong and that he wants to meet with Paul when they are all home.
A Process of Acknowledgement is a vital part of transition for families and communities who have endured the worst of our conflict.
That acknowledgement will be for more than just the bare violation of the person's right to life. It will be for everything that accompanied it - the systemic cover-ups, the lies, the propoganda and the denial of the dignity of humanity to those left violated and bereaved.
Very many will have to be part of providing this acknowledgement - the actors to the conflict, the politicians, the governments, state agencies, the churches.
But in Washington we saw how by providing a positive space in which the victims of the conflict are treated with equality and respect, processes of acknowledgement can begin. This is one of the ways that international intervention can be so vitally effective at this stage of our transition.
We hope that this good will can travel to our own shores and that promises made will bear fruit. Both of these public representatives are recognised as being men of integrity in their own right. We look forward to a new engagement with unionist politicans on these issues.
Sunday 18 March 2007
Philadelphia Here We Come!
18th March 2007
Last night we met with Irish Americans and Irish people who have made good in America like our good friend Sean Mackin who financially contributed to our trip.
It is becoming evident that Irish America is being asked to make substantial investment in Ireland if a deal is struck and the institutions are established.
It is vital that if investment is to be meaningful and make a significant and lasting difference that any investment is made on principles of equality and social need. Areas of social deprivation need to see a real peace dividend. Máirtín O Muillleoir has been promoting new McBride Principles which encourage investment on the basis of social and economic, need not because of cronyism or some other sectarian basis. This campaign needs immediate community and political support.
Obviously because of the big and brave steps taken by the nationalist and republican community in terms of embracing political change we need to see significant progress on investment in transitional mechanisms.
There must be a tangible policing dividend and peace dividend.
Victims need to have a parallel process to the political process which delivers to them - ending their silence and isolation - no matter where they come from. And this requires significant investment in projects which are supporting families in meaningful ways - supporting projects like the Pat Finucane Centre and RFJ and Justice for the Forgotten who are contributing to transition and ensuring the primacy of human rights in the new dispensation.
Today we are heading on another bus for "Philly" to address Irish Americans at a gathering there. We are very much looking forward to this. The Irish Diaspora has been essential to the movement of the Irish Peace Process. They cannot be taken for granted. The tangible and real support that these people gave to our visit this week has been astonishing. Sometimes it is easier to have a wider perspective on the real issues at stake with a bit of distance. This isn't to be confused with teary eyed sentimentality - we didn't see that - we saw real understanding of the importance of addressing outstanding issues in order to inform current instituions and vitally to secure our future stability.
By The Way - Happy Mothers Day Clara, Pauline and Theresa - who are all away from their children on this important journey.
Saturday 17 March 2007
There's no Business like Snow Business
We signed off last night as we left for New York City in our bus - normally a drive of about three hours from Washington DC. It was getting noticably colder and a bit wintry. Eight hours later we crawled off the bus in New York and landed on ten inches of snow.
Us home grown Irish have no idea about weather. A snow storm is a sight to behold! It was like Places, Trains and Automobiles only we were driving home to drown the shamrock. But the craic was ninety and it was Joxer goes to Stuttgart - except it was RFJ going to New York...
So that left the schedule in a heap - we missed our St Patrick's Day breakfast in Manhattan but got to see the big parade. Arguments about fire fighters and health and safety concerns for Irish dancers dominated proceedings and seemed a bit strange to us Paddies. We know that Fire Fighters across the world are courageous heroes who should be leading parades and we also know that Irish Dancers are made of very strong stuff indeed and if you can get through a Feis at the levels of these lassies, you can see off a bit of the white stuff.
Martina Purdy said on the radio today that the main issues for St Patrick's Week in America were Victims and Collusion. Which gave us a warm glow in the cold weather! Then she gave Pater Hain what for pointing out the ridiculous position of the British Government on the Pat Finucane Inquiry. Hain is saying the only way to hold an inquiry is under the Inquiries Act - legislation his government introduced to ensure that their interest is protected and the full truth hidden. Fair play to Martina pointing this out and saying the Government just needed to change the legislation, particularly in light of two governments (Irish and American) passing statements of condemnation for the British Government's position and in support of the Finucane family's demand for public independence and accountability - But our Mr Hain isn't one to let the patently obvious contradictions in his argument get in the way of obstinacy and a patronising "you just don't understand".
Well from our experience this week I can say fairly categorically America is willing to understand, and they believe that equality, transparency and independence are the keys to unlocking these issues for all of our community.
Beannachtaí Lá Féile Pádraig
Us home grown Irish have no idea about weather. A snow storm is a sight to behold! It was like Places, Trains and Automobiles only we were driving home to drown the shamrock. But the craic was ninety and it was Joxer goes to Stuttgart - except it was RFJ going to New York...
So that left the schedule in a heap - we missed our St Patrick's Day breakfast in Manhattan but got to see the big parade. Arguments about fire fighters and health and safety concerns for Irish dancers dominated proceedings and seemed a bit strange to us Paddies. We know that Fire Fighters across the world are courageous heroes who should be leading parades and we also know that Irish Dancers are made of very strong stuff indeed and if you can get through a Feis at the levels of these lassies, you can see off a bit of the white stuff.
Martina Purdy said on the radio today that the main issues for St Patrick's Week in America were Victims and Collusion. Which gave us a warm glow in the cold weather! Then she gave Pater Hain what for pointing out the ridiculous position of the British Government on the Pat Finucane Inquiry. Hain is saying the only way to hold an inquiry is under the Inquiries Act - legislation his government introduced to ensure that their interest is protected and the full truth hidden. Fair play to Martina pointing this out and saying the Government just needed to change the legislation, particularly in light of two governments (Irish and American) passing statements of condemnation for the British Government's position and in support of the Finucane family's demand for public independence and accountability - But our Mr Hain isn't one to let the patently obvious contradictions in his argument get in the way of obstinacy and a patronising "you just don't understand".
Well from our experience this week I can say fairly categorically America is willing to understand, and they believe that equality, transparency and independence are the keys to unlocking these issues for all of our community.
Beannachtaí Lá Féile Pádraig
Friday 16 March 2007
Making Impact
Irish Embassy Reception
The Irish Embassy Reception was very nice at the Irish Ambassador's Residence and of course everyone notable was there. They all get very well fed and watered.
Bertie Ahern was very interested in meeting us - which was nice since we had asked him for an urgent meeting before Christmas and has still to get back to us. But maybe it is easier to make time on foreign shores.
Still it was good to have him so positive on the issue of addressing collusion and needing to find an effective way of dealing with the past. Some of his colleagues joined with family members in Belturbet today as a memorial was unveiled to those killed by the loyalist bombs planted there with full British military direction. Of course for years those families were isolated and censored in their own country - it's good to see physical and political recognition of their experience. The McEntee Report is probably burning a hole on Bertie's desk at the minute. The coming weeks will be very important for the Southern state.
As he wished the political parties luck with devolution we hoped that there will be continuing interest in these outstanding issues for the transitional process. Raymond McCord spoke to him about the role a Special Branch agent played in planting a bomb in Monaghan and the need for the Irish Government to pay better heed to this. Bertie listened intently probably not missing the irony given events in Belturbet.
Not quite so happy to see us was Mr Peter Hain. He was chatting away with people affected by republican actions when we got to speak to him. He knows the issues we raise are challenging issues for his government and was particularly non-committal. But the British Government have these issues being raised again and again and it is now people from all backgrounds and roles in the conflict who are coming with questions about the Dirty War, no longer is it just republicans - no wonder it is easier to talk to some people than others.
Senate's Unanimous Support for Finucane Inquiry
It was great to see the US Senate unanimously pass a resolution in favour of a full public inquiry into the kiling of Pat Finucane - there has long been total moral authority for this hopefully the political pressure will also grow and the British Government will realise they have to stop trying to control and damage limitate . As Geraldine Finucane tellingly said "We must know what went on in order to move on".
McCord and Finucanes go to the White House
Families affected by collusion from both communities were represented at the White House Reception. It is symbolically important to have our issues raised at this event. Mr Hain arrived with other victims of our conflict - the sisters of Robert McCartney and the Raffertys from Dublin. They were afforded their own special audience with Mr Bush. Hopefully the next time a US president meets with victims from the conflict it will be more inclusive, with people affected by all actors to the conflict.
Hilary Clinton Gets Aquainted
We spent the entire afternoon with the chief of staff of Hilary Clinton's office. It was very important. We covered the areas of truth recovery, policing, criminal justice and recovery of memory.
Clara Reilly spoke at length about the importance of the Remembering Quilt and showed photographs - we hope that this is something we can have further discussions on, drawing similarities with the memory projects around the devastation at the Twin Towers.
So we leave Washington with the weather turning to snow and a good job done. We are looking forward to St Patrick's Day in New York.
Thanks to Martin McGuinness who offered us seats in his box at the fight in Madison Square Gardens. We were too busy finishing our business in Washington and too late so we let the tickets go to other fans of Derry's Dancing Duddy. Can't do it all!!
The Irish Embassy Reception was very nice at the Irish Ambassador's Residence and of course everyone notable was there. They all get very well fed and watered.
Bertie Ahern was very interested in meeting us - which was nice since we had asked him for an urgent meeting before Christmas and has still to get back to us. But maybe it is easier to make time on foreign shores.
Still it was good to have him so positive on the issue of addressing collusion and needing to find an effective way of dealing with the past. Some of his colleagues joined with family members in Belturbet today as a memorial was unveiled to those killed by the loyalist bombs planted there with full British military direction. Of course for years those families were isolated and censored in their own country - it's good to see physical and political recognition of their experience. The McEntee Report is probably burning a hole on Bertie's desk at the minute. The coming weeks will be very important for the Southern state.
As he wished the political parties luck with devolution we hoped that there will be continuing interest in these outstanding issues for the transitional process. Raymond McCord spoke to him about the role a Special Branch agent played in planting a bomb in Monaghan and the need for the Irish Government to pay better heed to this. Bertie listened intently probably not missing the irony given events in Belturbet.
Not quite so happy to see us was Mr Peter Hain. He was chatting away with people affected by republican actions when we got to speak to him. He knows the issues we raise are challenging issues for his government and was particularly non-committal. But the British Government have these issues being raised again and again and it is now people from all backgrounds and roles in the conflict who are coming with questions about the Dirty War, no longer is it just republicans - no wonder it is easier to talk to some people than others.
Senate's Unanimous Support for Finucane Inquiry
It was great to see the US Senate unanimously pass a resolution in favour of a full public inquiry into the kiling of Pat Finucane - there has long been total moral authority for this hopefully the political pressure will also grow and the British Government will realise they have to stop trying to control and damage limitate . As Geraldine Finucane tellingly said "We must know what went on in order to move on".
McCord and Finucanes go to the White House
Families affected by collusion from both communities were represented at the White House Reception. It is symbolically important to have our issues raised at this event. Mr Hain arrived with other victims of our conflict - the sisters of Robert McCartney and the Raffertys from Dublin. They were afforded their own special audience with Mr Bush. Hopefully the next time a US president meets with victims from the conflict it will be more inclusive, with people affected by all actors to the conflict.
Hilary Clinton Gets Aquainted
We spent the entire afternoon with the chief of staff of Hilary Clinton's office. It was very important. We covered the areas of truth recovery, policing, criminal justice and recovery of memory.
Clara Reilly spoke at length about the importance of the Remembering Quilt and showed photographs - we hope that this is something we can have further discussions on, drawing similarities with the memory projects around the devastation at the Twin Towers.
So we leave Washington with the weather turning to snow and a good job done. We are looking forward to St Patrick's Day in New York.
Thanks to Martin McGuinness who offered us seats in his box at the fight in Madison Square Gardens. We were too busy finishing our business in Washington and too late so we let the tickets go to other fans of Derry's Dancing Duddy. Can't do it all!!
Thursday 15 March 2007
Raymond McCord to Attend Whitehouse Reception
PRESS RELEASE 15th March 2007
Raymond McCord in Visit to White House
Raymond McCord snr will be attending the St Patrick's Day Reception in the White House tomorrow at the invitation of the US State Department.
Mr McCord is currently part of the Relatives for Justice Cross-Community Delegation meeting governmental figures in Washington DC.
Mr McCord will be representing the families of people killed as a result of the policy of collusion from all backgrounds, irrespective of their politics or religion, including the families of those British army and police members.
Mr McCord will be entering the White House tomorrow morning at 10am at the South East Gate.
We Meet Paisley and Orde
15th March 2007
Yesterday afternoon was interesting. Clara, Pauline and Theresa met with Senator John Kerry the former Democratic cadidate for US President. They had a fruitful discussion with him about the need for US intervention on dealing with the past.
Today started with the Northern Ireland Bureau Breakfast. This is one of those "must be at" events for many.
The other one was last night - the IFI Dinner. A tux and bow tie affair which at $1000 a head was a bit rich for our delegation's blood but some got their meals bought for them - like the Chief Constable and 7 members of the Policing Board who had their own table. They all flew here first class and have rooms in a top hotel right at the hert of the action. But the public purse stumps up for that bill. And of course the public needs the Policing Board to have 7 members go doesn't it? Isn't the reason obvious? No? Well it must be a very good reason for it to be so lacking in obviousness.
We have our sponsors to thank for getting us here at all and our economy seats were just fine and our hotel way out in the suburbs is clean and the staff are lovely.
But we digress... The Breakfast was attended by all kinds of characters including ourselves.
We bumped into Ian Paisley jnr and wished him the very best for meeting the deadline for devolution - victims need local accountability too... He was a bit peeved at us over the challenge to Bertha McDougall's appointment, we discussed it for a while and agreed to disagree over whether it is right to legally challenge public appointments are clearly made for improper political purpose and how this is not about any individual. But we did agree that all victims' needs must be addressed and victims supported. So all in all a positive discussion leaving plenty more to discuss.
Mark Thompson had a long chat with Hugh Orde. Hugh agrees that the past needs to be strategically addressed but wasn't so keen when Mark raised the recent arrests of Vincent McAnespie and Gerry McGeough by C2 on the grounds of suspicion in being involved in the attempted murder of a UDR member at the start of the '80s. Mark pointed out that this stood in stark contrast to the lack of response by the HET to the outstanding murder of Vincent's brother Aidan by the British Army. No public arrests and publicity machine for that one! But Hugh stood by the HET who don't make arrests in historic cases - which is what they are meant to do - and by the rest of the PSNI who do make arrests in historic cases which he has said they shouldn't be doing - who would be a chief constable with all of those contradictions? And when he heard the term political policing - well, he near went off his croissants!
Dawn Purvis, newly elected MLA for East Belfast, and leader of the Progressive Unionist Party sat down to find herself next to Raymond McCord snr. Raymond had a chat with her asking her opinion about the UVF murder of his son, the lack of response from her party to the Police Ombudsman's report which found systemic collusion between RUC Special Branch and the UVF and the contrived coverup of his son's murder by the Special Branch. He also asked her opinion about the lack of UVF decommissoning and indeed the lack of political pressure on her party for UVF decommissioning. Dawn's line on all of this is that it is not a matter for her. Which is more than a little disappointing when she described herself as a "New Dawn" on her election posters.
So we have had better breakfasts, especially in the home of Clara Reilly, but not many as interesting as that one.
This afternoon we are off to meet the chiefs of staff for Hilary Clinton, Brack Obama and Ted Kennedy as a prelude to meeting the public representatives themselves. And then we are meeting up with Mrs Nuala O'Loan who is here too.
Peter Hain's office phoned to ask us to attend the British Ambassador's St Patrick's event. So we are delighted to go along to that on behalf of the hundreds of families who have put their faith in us to raise British state involvement in the killings of their loved ones.
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