RUC slated at Gilman hearings
Packed galleries hear accounts of harassment, injury, and
death
Our hero, who stood up for freedom and for right and for justice.
- Congressman Donald Payne on Rosemary Nelson
| |
Irish Americans representing every major Irish American organization,
and individuals alike, queued last Thursday, 22 April, to show their
support for the hearings called by Congressman Benjamin Gilman on the
need for a new policing service in the Six Counties.
It was clear that there were people from beyond the Irish American
community in attendance, showing that the true nature and role of the
RUC is a matter of concern for everyone. This was also evidenced by
the support shown from the Congressmen who attended.
The last two weeks have seen the political institutions in Washington
raising the issues of the RUC and the Good Friday Agreement in a
strong and positive way. The week beforehand, resolutions were passed
calling for an independent inquiry into the deaths of Rosemary Nelson
and Patrick Finucane, congratulating and urging all signatories of
the Good Friday Agreement to stick to the letter of the Agreement,
and stopping funds going to joint FBI/RUC training.
The overwhelming show of support for the hearings on the RUC reminded
members of Congress and the British and Irish governments how
important Irish issues are to America.
Ben Gilman was the first to speak, setting the tone for the rest of
the day. ``Let there be no mistake, new and acceptable policing for
the North of Ireland must come, sooner rather than later. It must be
root and branch, not that which is politically acceptable to the
ruling unionist majority.''
``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,'' said
Congressman Gregory Meeks, quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as he
explained why he felt the hearings of the day were so important.
Diane Hamill (sister of Robert Hamill), Fr. Sean McManus, Fr. Raymond
Murray, Toni Carragher (South Armagh Farmers and Residents
Committee), Professor John McGarry (University of Western Ontario),
Maggie Bierne (Committee for the Administration for Justice), Jane
Winter (British Irish Rights Watch), Hayla Gowan (Amnesty
International), and Julia Hall (Human Rights Watch) all testified to
the committee about the reasons why, if peace is to come to the North
of Ireland, there needs to be a new policing service.
It is self evident that the RUC must be replaced by a new police
service and it is necessary to start all over with this discredited
police service.
- Congressman Ben Gilman
| |
Speaking from Capitol Hill, Sinn Féin Representative Rita O'Hare
said: ``These hearings and the recent UN reports on the RUC have
enforced the view in America of the need for a totally new policing
service. They highlight in the most effective way the true nature of
the RUC.''
Congressman Chris Smith said: ``There have now been three hearings on
Human Rights in the North of Ireland. There is one reourring theme,
one inescapable conclusion - the RUC is at the core of human rights
abuses in the North of Ireland.''
``The U.S. Congress will not rest until the RUC is investigated and
overhauled,'' said Congressman Steve Rothman, while Congressmen Donald
Payne and William Delahunt called for the ``complete disbandment'' of
the RUC.
Paul Nelson's statement demanding a fully independent international
investigation and independent international judicial inquiry into the
assassination of his wife, Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson, was
placed in the official record.
Dr. Robbie McVeigh, spokesperson for the Rosemary Nelson Campaign,
was welcomed by Chairperson Gilman who, along with his colleagues,
paid tribute to Rosemary Nelson's courage and dedication to
protecting all her clients, irrespective of political or religious
belief, from human rights abuses.
Representative Chris Smith, Chairperson of the House Committee on
International Operation and Human Rights, noted Rosemary Nelson's
testimony before the committee in September 1998, in which she spoke
of the death threats and harassment she received from the RUC and of
the complete impossibility of her seeking police protection in that
environment.
Robbie McVeigh said: ``It was inspiring to see Rosemary's case so
central to discussions on human rights in the North of Ireland. There
was unanimity across Congress with both Republicans and Democrats
committing themselves to supporting the campaign for justice for
Rosemary Nelson. International pressure like this will ensure that
the campaign demands for an independent international investigation
and inquiry into the circumstances surrounding her murder are
released.''
Congressman Donald Payne called Rosemary Nelson ``our hero, who stood
up for freedom and for right and for justice.''
Congressman Peter King said that the hearings were not dealing with
Irish issues or partisan issues, but ``human issues.''
Diane Hamill gave chilling testimony about the circumstances of her
brother's death. She told the committee that as a gang of loyalists
kicked her brother to death, an RUC patrol car was not 20 yards away
from the scene. The RUC did nothing and did not even bother to fill
out a report about the incident when they returned to the station.
Congressman King asked Diane Hamill if David Trimble (the family's
elected representative) ever contacted the family regarding Robert.
Hamill replied: ``No. I wrote two times. He replied to the second
letter with three lines.'' Hamill said: ``I am a Catholic from
Portadown. Mr. Trimble does not recognize my being.''
After hearing the lack of response Diane Hamill and her family
received from the First Minister, Congressman Chris Smith announced
that the committee would write a letter to David Trimble. This was
met with an outburst of cheer and applause from an over-capacity
audience.
Ms. Toni Carragher, Secretary of the South Armagh Farmers and
Residents Committee, outlined a series of incidents where evidence of
RUC collusion with loyalist killers is emerging.
She said: ``Evidence from a former member of the RUC would indicate
that a group existed within the RUC which targeted and killed
nationalists. It is our belief that at least eight murders were
carried out by this group in South Armagh. This report includes
several case histories outlining examples of murder, harassment,
intimidation and assault by the RUC. These alone, we believe, would
warrant an inquiry into the RUC.''
Congressman Joe Crowley told those in attendance that he believed
that the testimony he heard was part of a ``systematic, institutional''
problem the RUC has, not isolated incidents.
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on Policing, Bairbre de Brún, said: ``The
long queues of people waiting to attend the hearings and the
passionate contributions from the members of the U.S. Congress show
the importance with which this issue is now regarded.
She continued: ``Today's many contributions from Diane Hamill, Dr.
Robbie McVeigh of the Rosemary Nelson Campaign and a host of other
human rights activists highlighted the litany of abuses by the RUC
over a long period of time. The RUC has lost all credibility, not
only in Ireland, but internationally.''
Congressman Gilman closed the hearings, saying: ``It is self evident
that the RUC must be replaced by a new police service and it is
necessary to start all over with this discredited police service.
``It is my sincere hope that we do not merely see from the Patten
Commission minimalist and symbolic reforms that seek to appease the
dominant unionist establishment in the North while leaving this
institution intact as we know it today.''
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