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MARCH
200 WASHINGTON HIGHLIGHTS
The high point of
my recent visit to Washington was an invitation to the White House St Patrick’s
Day event, where I had the honour of being introduced to the President by Representative
Chris Smith. The President assured
me that he wanted to assist in the peace process and said, “We’re committed.”
Very many thanks to Chris Smith and to his chief of staff Mary Noonan
for all their help.
While in Washington
I testified at a hearing by the House Subcommittee on International Relations
and Human Rights on the review of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.
The hearing was considering the progress made on the human rights commitments
contained in the Good Friday Agreement.
Michael Posner of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights testified about
policing and Martin O’Brien of the Committee on the Administration of Justice
covered the Bill of Rights and equality issues.
The hearing took place on 15th March, the second anniversary
of Rosemary Nelson’s murder, and both she and Patrick Finucane were remembered
at the hearing.
I also attended the
American Ireland Fund’s gala dinner, at the kind invitation of the Dunfey family,
whose support made my trip possible. Warmest
thanks to them and to the South African Ambassador, Sheila Sisulu, for their
kind hospitality.
BILLY WRIGHT
On 9th March I visited the Maze prison, now closed, together with David Wright, Billy Wright’s father. The visit helped to establish a number of important timings and measurements, and cast further doubt on the official version of events. We are grateful to the Northern Ireland Prison Service for facilitating this visit.
On 13th March David Wright met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, John Reid. While the meeting itself represented progress – previous Secretaries of State had refused to meet him – Mr Wright was disappointed that John Reid issued a press statement before the meeting was over saying that there will be no public inquiry unless fresh evidence comes to light.
In the meantime, judgment is still awaited in the judicial review of the coroner’s refusal to release depositions. The RUC has now declared itself an interested party, which has delayed matters.
DUBLIN & MONAGHAN BOMBINGS: APPEAL FOR WITNESSES
Justice for the Forgotten held a press conference in London this month in the hopes of encouraging witnesses living in England to come forward if they know anything about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974. If anyone has any information, they are welcome to contact us. We have supplied further information about the case to Mr Justice Barron, who has taken over the Commission of Inquiry from the former Chief Justice, Liam Hamilton, who sadly died not long after taking on the role.
SUNDAY TIMES
STILL GAGGED OVER FRU
Attempts by the Sunday
Times to vary the injunction prohibiting them from publishing information
given to them about the Force Research Unit by a former member of the unit known
as Martin Ingram have failed. Mr
Justice Blofeld declined to put the public’s right to know about the activities
of this clandestine army intelligence unit – which we say was responsible for
the deaths of Patrick Finucane and many others – above those of national security.
His decision was much influenced by a risk assessment prepared by the
Ministry of Defence, one of the interested parties, that was not disclosed to
the Sunday Times, who could not therefore contest it.
The newspaper has appealed. Thanks
to Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh for observing on our behalf.
PETER McBRIDE
We have supplied
an affidavit in support of Jean McBride’s attempt to judicially review the Army
Board for re-instating her son’s murderers, James Fisher and Mark Wright, into
the army. Our thanks to Katie Wiik
for acting as our observer at this hearing.
DISCLOSURE TO
PRISONERS
We have submitted comments to the Northern Ireland Prison
Service on their policy on the voluntary disclosure of information.
FAREWELL TO
BLINNE
Blinne Ní
Ghrálaigh is leaving us to take up a post with a solicitor’s firm before starting
her law degree. Thanks to her our
files on the Northern Ireland peace process are in much better shape.
We wish her well in the future.
Jane Winter,
Director,
30th March 2001.
For Peace Justice & Human Rights
