Irish-Americans Welcome Another Congressional Hearing.

CAPITOL HILL. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 --- Irish-Americans are delighted that -- for the second time within twelve months – there will be another Congressional Hearing on Northern Ireland: “Fulfilling the Promise of Peace: Human Rights, Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and Bosnia.” Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 9: 30 AM. Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. Room 2172 Rayburn House Office Building, Independence Ave & South Capitol St. SW. (and available live, via the WEBCAST link on the Committee website at http://www.hcfa.house.gov) Expected to last 2-3 hours.

Fr. Sean Mc Manus, President of the Capitol Hill based Irish National Caucus said: "Subcommittee Chairman, Congressman Russ Carnahan (D. MO.) is a man of his word. Last St. Patrick’s Day he promised me he would hold a Hearing on Northern Ireland. And the following day, March 18, I brought along Ms. Aideen Gilmore --Deputy Director, Committee on the Administration of Justice, (CAJ) Belfast -- to meet him. Aideen will now be the witness on Northern Ireland – and an entirely excellent one at that. ’’

Fr. Mc Manus continued: “ Just last October 22 we had a Hearing before the same Subcommittee (Congressman Bill Delahunt of MA. was then Chairman ) on British Government collusion in the murder of the young Protestant, Raymond Mc Cord Jr in 1997 in Belfast by Protestant paramilitaries.Raymond Sr. was the witness. Now within twelve months of that, we have a second Hearing. This demonstrates that the U.S. Congress maintains a high interest in Northern Ireland. The Irish National Caucus is determined to keep it so. Human rights must be the heart and soul of the Irish peace –process. Irish-Americans are deeply grateful to Congressman Carnahan for his commitment to human rights in Ireland, and across the globe. He deserves great credit”.

END.