Article from the Irish Times by Deaglán de Bréadún:

THERE WAS “no greater stain” on the policing and justice system in Northern Ireland than the assassination of Belfast lawyer Patrick Finucane, a prominent Irish-American congressman has said.

Chairman of the Congressional Friends of Ireland, Democrat Richard Neal of Massachusetts was speaking at the unveiling of a Robert Ballagh painting of Mr Finucane, commissioned by Belfast Media Group and Belfast art collector Paul Cooper.
A 39-year-old father of three, Mr Finucane was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his family at their North Belfast home on February 12th, 1989 and his wife, Geraldine, was wounded. The circumstances of the attack immediately gave rise to allegations of involvement by state security services.

The British government has offered to hold an inquiry into the case, but this was rejected by campaigners on the basis that it would take place under new legislation whereby the public could be excluded from part of the hearings and material withheld from the final published report.

“There is no greater stain on the policing and justice system in the north of Ireland than the Finucane assassination and I think the continued presence of American interest is pivotal,” Congressman Neal said at the ceremony, which took place last Thursday.

Artist Robert Ballagh said: “Being asked to do this portrait was a huge honour for me.” Pat Finucane had “displayed enormous courage in defending the human rights of people who got caught up in the conflict in the North”. Máirtín Ó Muilleoir of the Belfast Media Group said the painting would be displayed in a number of state houses throughout the US.
 

Washington, DC—The Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), Irish Northern Aid (INA) and the Irish American Unity Conference (IAUC) have joined together in a renewed effort to support an independent truth recovery process to deal with the legacy of the past following Thursday’s Congressional hearing into collusion in the North of Ireland.

The hearing featured testimony from Raymond McCord, John Finucane, former Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan, and Jane Winter, director of British Irish Rights Watch. Overwhelming Congressional support for further investigations into collusion and the full disclosure of truth on the part of the British government was evident throughout.

Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA), chair of the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, told the audience that the information surrounding collusion between British security forces and paramilitaries must be made public if people are to maintain faith in the integrity of the justice system.  Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) agreed, stating that there is bipartisan support for truth recovery in Congress.  “These issues are not going to go away,” Smith said.

“We would like to see Congress become actively involved in the establishment and oversight of an independent truth commission in the North of Ireland,” said IAUC President Kate McCabe.  “Such a process, where victims’ rights are at the forefront, is essential to a lasting peace.  American political support is necessary to ensure the true independence of any truth recovery process in the North.”

AOH National President Seamus Boyle said, “It is very important to remember that with the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 ending the conflict in the North the Ancient Order of Hibernians refocused on the human rights and collusion issues which were highlighted in this Congressional hearing. We need to have resolution to these collusion issues which devastated both communities. We can then move on to the much more difficult task of a political dialogue and reconciliation between the communities.”

The AOH, INA and the IAUC are requesting that a Congressional fact-finding delegation be organized to travel to the North to specifically investigate the collusion issue.  In addition, members of Congress are being asked to write to the Northern Ireland Office and Prime Minister Gordon Brown to express support for the “Legacy Commission” as proposed by the Consultative Group on the Past, provided that the British government allow for its operational independence and full access to State archives.

All Irish Americans and concerned citizens are being asked to join the AOH and IAUC in promoting these goals.

Please show your support for all of the victims of collusion in the North by attending the Congressional hearing scheduled for this Thursday, October 22nd.  Let Congress know that there is a tremendous amount of political support behind uncovering the broader themes of the conflict, including collusion, shoot-to-kill and British state violence. (If you are unable to attend, email info (at) iauc.org to find out how you can help!)

See the details below, or go here:

Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Chairman:

"Concerns Regarding Possible Collusion in Northern Ireland: Police and Paramilitary Groups"

The hearing begins at 10am in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

BRIEFING BY:

Her Excellency Nuala O'Loan
Member
British House of Lords
(Former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman)

WITNESSES:

Mr. Raymond McCord, Sr.
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Mr. John Finucane
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Ms. Jane Winter
Director
British Irish Rights Watch