Director's Report March 2000

March 2000

15th March saw the first anniversary of the savage murder of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson, who will always be remembered with warmth and admiration by those of us who knew her. British Irish RIGHTS WATCH was honoured to sponsor a memorial service for Rosemary in London, together with Pax Christi and the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain. Just before the anniversary, Ian Thompson, who was serving in the army in the Lurgan area at the time of the murder, was arrested by the RUC for possession of weapons and questioned about her murder by Colin Port, who did not, however, charge him with the murder. A recent newspaper report links Thompson with the sinister racist group, Combat 18. On 1st March, government security minister Adam Ingram met Paul Mageean of CAJ and myself in response to British Irish RIGHTS WATCH's report about Rosemary's death, sent to the Secretary of State last December. It was a disappointing meeting, but we will continue to press for an independent inquiry into these miserable events.

On 10th March I met with Deputy Assistant Commissioner Hugh Orde of the Metropolitan Police, who has taken over the day-to-day running of the investigation into the murder of Patrick Finucane, prompted by our report of February 1999. It is surprising that the government continues to pour considerable resources into this police investigation, rather than holding the independent inquiry that is supported by everyone who has considered the facts of the case, apart from those whose actions would be the subject of scrutiny by such an inquiry. Meanwhile, information continues to leak out about the Force Research Unit, who we have alleged targeted a number of citizens, including Patrick Finucane, for murder.

On 14th March the Commission for Security and Co-operation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, held hearings on the murders of Patrick Fincuane and Rosemary Nelson. Geraldine Finucane, Patrick's wife, and Eunan Magee, Rosemary's brother spoke movingly and trenchantly about the murders of their loved ones. Paul Mageean of CAJ, Michael Posner of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights, and I also testified. Our thanks to representative Chris Smith, who chairs the Commission, and staffers Mary Noonan and Maureen Walsh, for putting together this hearing at short notice. Eunan Magee had to return home for the memorial Mass for Rosemary, but members of the Finucane family and the NGOs remained in Washington and held a series of meetings with members of the American government and administration to raise awareness about both cases.

Warmest gratitude to our good friends the Dunfey family for their kind invitation to the American Ireland Fund's Gala Dinner in Washington on 16th March. This year's event honoured President Clinton, who made a truly inspired speech about the peace process in Northern Ireland, addressed to all its political leaders, who were also present. The Dunfey's Global Citizens Circle held a special event on 18th March honouring Senator George Mitchell's role in the peace process. He also sent a powerful message to the political leaders. The Dunfeys have always been at the heart of promoting the process, in good times and in bad, and have supported many initiatives in Northern Ireland, of which we are proud to be one.

The Bloody Sunday Inquiry finally began on 27th March. However, it is only expected to sit for three weeks, while Counsel to the Tribunal makes a lengthy opening statement. It will then probably adjourn to allow further time for preparation, resuming again in September. British Irish RIGHTS WATCH will have a full-time observer, Catherine McKenna, at the hearings, and her weekly reports will be posted on our website, starting soon. We should like to express our warm thanks to the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust for the funding to enable us to maintain a full-time observer at the Inquiry.

On 6th March we delivered a detailed report to former Chief Justice Hamilton, who is holding a private inquiry into the 1974 bombings in Dublin and Monaghan. In our report, which remains confidential at this stage, we suggested a number of lines of inquiry that Chief Justice Hamilton may wish to pursue. On 28th March I met with the lawyers who represent many of the victims of the bombings to discuss progress. Like the victims, we hope that this private inquiry will lead to the full public inquiry that is required.

On 29th March the long awaited report of the Criminal Justice Review was published. Press reports suggest that there are many positive recommendations for reform within the report, but I will wait until I receive a copy before coming to any conclusions. The government has announced a consultation exercise on the review's proposals, to which we will certainly respond.

I am delighted to report that the Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred back to the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal the case of Christy Walsh. He was convicted in 1992 of possession of a coffee jar bomb and subsequently lost his appeal. He was sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment. However, two new witnesses have since come forward who have backed up his consistent denial of involvement in this crime. The CCRC originally were minded not to refer his case back for a fresh hearing, but excellent work on the part of his lawyer Nigel Broderick, who also successfully represented Billy Gorman, caused them to reverse their decision.

I participated in a seminar on the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination on 27th March, organised by the 1990 Trust and Liberty, where it was a pleasure to meet Gay MacDougall again, who is now a member of the Committee and who had many useful insights to impart. On 29th March I taught a seminar at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies on fundraising, as part of their MA in Understanding Human Rights.

I am very pleased to welcome Neshemah Blackwell, who is studying at the London School of Economics, as a volunteer. Neshemah will be helping us with our chronology project.

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