Relatives for Justice Trip to USA -- Stormont Watch

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Date Posted: Sun, Apr 01 2007, 22:13:23 PDT
Author: Sponsors: AOH & Noraid
Subject: Relatives for Justice Trip to USA

TO: iapl_newsroom32@hotmail.com Printed: Sunday, April 1, 2007 9:07 PM
Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2007 5:31 AM

Subject : [aohnn] From the Belfast Telegraph - Michael and Sean You've Done Well

The trip for the Relatives for Justice Families sponsored by the AOH National Board FFAI and Irish Northern Aid was obviously a huge success. Congratulations to both groups.
As we have said before to have the Belfast Telegraph, the Unionist newspaper write a positive article on Irish America is going a long way.

Ned McGinley
Past National President

Congratulations to everyone who helped. "Everyone has their own part to play"

Especially Michael Glass and Sean Pender as well as Philadelphia and Division 39.
Local & National

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Washington trip boosts anti-collusion campaign

It's been a very positive experience. Ian Paisley jnr told us he got into politics because of human rights issues surrounding the UDR Four
Unionist politicians now take us seriously, say dads
Monday, March 26, 2007

By Chris Thornton

Protestant collusion victims say unionist politicians are beginning to treat to them seriously after they took part in a cross-community trip to Washington.

Campaigning dads Raymond McCord and Paul McIlwaine, who flew to the US with the group Relatives for Justice, said they lined up meetings with both the UUP and DUP as a result of the trip.

Both men had previously accused most unionist politicians of ignoring their cases because they raised uncomfortable questions about the behaviour of the security forces.

Raymond McCord's son, Raymond jnr, was murdered in November 1997. In January a Police Ombudsman report concluded there was collusion in the case.

Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan found that the murder was ordered by a paid police agent and UVF member who was linked to at least 10 murders and protected from prosecution.

Paul McIlwaine's son, David, was butchered by the UVF along with another Portadown teenager, Andrew Robb, in February 2000.

Mr McIlwaine has repeatedly raised concerns that an agent was involved in the case. At one stage police threatened to throw an official gagging order, known as a Public Interest Immunity Certificate, over a court case he has pursued against the chief constable.

They travelled to Washington with nationalist victims Theresa Slane, whose husband's murder by the UDA was linked to Army agent Brian Nelson, and Pauline Davey-Kennedy, whose father was also murdered by loyalists.

During the trip, Mr McCord attended the White House's St Patrick's Day reception along with the widow and youngest son of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane.

DUP members clashed with Mr McIlwaine last October because he protested about collusion during the St Andrews talks.

But Mr McIlwaine said contacts in Washington with DUP Assembly member Ian Paisley jnr and UUP deputy leader Danny Kennedy at some of the Washington events led to promises of meetings back in Northern Ireland.

"It's been a very positive experience," said Mr McIlwaine. " Ian Paisley jnr told us he got into politics because of human rights issues surrounding the UDR Four.

"The way we've been treated has been tremendous - whether it meeting Congressmen, being at the British Embassy, the Irish Embassy or when Raymond was in the White House."

Ms Davey-Kennedy, whose father was a Sinn Fein councillor, said her family has long been concerned about remarks made by DUP MP Rev William McCrea. She said Mr Paisley told her to raise the comments with the MP.

"He was quite adamant that the family should contact William McCrea and that is what we're going to do," she said.

Mr McCord added: "I've been astounded by the reception we've got. Because we are a cross-community delegation, doors were opened and people listened very closely to what we had to say."

Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice added: "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."

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