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!!