Congressman Delahunt to Hold Hearing into Murder of Raymond McCord, Jr on Oct. 22

Capitol Hill. September 28, 2009. Irish-Americans have warmly welcomed the news that Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, has scheduled a Congressional Hearing for October 22 on the case of Raymond Mc Cord Jr. (22) who was murdered in 1997 near Belfast. The Mc Cords are a Protestant/Unionist family.

Because British Government agents and police informers were involved in the murder the crime and collusion were covered up and only exposed by the relentless truth-campaign of the young man’s father, Raymond Sr., who will be the main witness at the Hearing – marking the first time a Protestant has testified on collusion.

“Congressman Delahunt deserves great credit for scheduling this Hearing”, said Fr. Sean Mc Manus, president of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus, which last May brought Raymond Mc Cord Sr. to Capitol Hill to lobby for his son’s cause.

“Raymond Mc Cord Sr. is one of the true heroes of the Northern Ireland Troubles. He is the Protestant Pat Finucane.This Hearing is the crowning achievement of his 12-year-relentles, and extraordinarily brave, campaign. I was honored to introduce Raymond to the very fine Congressman Delahunt, who listened to him with openness and compassion, and on the spot pledged to Raymond that he would hold a Hearing on his son’s case. Congressman Delahunt has now honored his pledge and has demonstrated great leadership in scheduling this Hearing”.

Fr. Mc Manus concluded by saying: “ I know how much this Hearing will mean for the Mc Cord family and so I am really pleased for them. I hope it will also show the Protestants of Northern Ireland that Irish-Americans are also concerned when Protestants are victims of collusion”.
Raymond Mc Cord himself had this reaction:

“First of all, I want to thank Congressman Delahunt and Irish Americans for their support.
For 12 years I have fought a long, lonely battle for justice for my murdered son Raymond Jr. I am a Protestant/Unionist who has been ignored by the churches and the State. Unionist politicians like Jeffery Donaldson failed to keep their promises in my quest for justice. They ignored injustice and collusion even when proven. Cover -ups were government policy.
Fortunately for my family a stranger, who happened to be a Roman Catholic priest, decided to help. This priest, Father Sean McManus, introduced me to his many Congressional friends and raised Raymond’s case among Irish -Americans. My family and I will be eternally grateful to Sean, as I call him, and to the U S Congress and Irish- Americans. I only hope I have done my son Raymond Jr. proud”.
ENDS