Irish-Americans Welcome NI Congressional Hearing

CAPITOL HILL. Wednesday, March 21, 2012-- Irish-Americans expressed enthusiastic support for the Congressional Hearing on Northern Ireland:
“Prerequisites for Progress in Northern Ireland”

“ There is no better way for Washington to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than a Congressional Hearing on human rights and justice in Northern Ireland,” said Fr. Sean Mc Manus, president of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus. “ At the end of the day, the thing the British Government is most worried about is adverse opinion in the U.S. Government. “

Fr. Mc Manus went on to praise Chairman Chris Smith. “ This is Chris’ fourteenth Congressional Hearing on Northern Ireland – a remarkable and unprecedented record.” (In his recently published Memoirs, My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland, Fr. Mc Manus describes Chairman Smith as, ‘ the quintessential good guy – dedicated, courageous and committed to human rights everywhere.’ (page 240).

Fr. Mc Manus was particularly pleased that his long-time ally in the struggle, Mark Thompson, Relatives for Justice, was invited to be a witness: “ For many years, Mark has done outstanding work in exposing collusion and other forms of England’s dirty war in The North.”
And he added, “ Mrs. Finucane’s presence, as always, adds great urgency and poignancy to the Hearing.”

He concluded by also welcoming the presence on the Witness Panel of Christopher Stanley of the British-Irish Watch, which has done very valuable work over the years.