Hibernians wearing sashes and medallions,joined local Irish community groups, Gaelic Clubs and St. Barnabas parishioners, for Bronx County’s 5th annual Gaelic Mass Day, celebrated by Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald on Sunday October 29^th. Once again the symbol for the day was the Irish Mass Rocks, where outlawedMasses were said in secret by outlawed priestsduring the English Penal Laws. This year the Irish Language Mass included a special remembrance for bereaved families “who hunger and thirst for justice”, following a call by Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of all Ireland, for prayers for those who lost loved ones during the Troubles, and fear their hopes of justice taken away by a new British amnesty law. 

PIPERS

The ceremony began with pipers Rockland County AOH President Dermot Moore, and Bronx Division 5 President Pat O’Hara leading Fr. Fitzgerald and Hibernians into the Church. New York AOH leaders included State Vice-President Tom Beirne, District Directors Clive Cronin and Kevin Howell, and County Presidents Robert Eggen and Jamie Hamilton. Ladies AOH members were led by LAOH NY State Freedom for all Ireland Chair, Joan Moore.

BOOKLETS

Booklets containing Irish-English translations of the prayers, were handed out to those coming into St. Barnabas, or downloaded by viewers on facebook. These booklets allowed everyone to follow the prayers in English as they listened to the Irish words.    

Readings in Irish were done by Irish Deputy Consul General Gareth Hargadon and MaireadGreenan, of the Emerald Isle ImmigrationCenter.

A special music program in Irish was provided by the Dawn Doherty Academy of Irish music and singing, with performers including Dawn Doherty, Jimmy Grady, Lauren Tuffy ,Ellie Reilly, Maureen Rutledge, EmerMoylan, Bridget Ferry, Lily Kenny, TrionaMcEntee, Maggie Feehan and Katie Talty. 

Local Irish community groups supporting the Gaelic Mass included the, Aisling Irish Center, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, Brooklyn Irish Club and of course St. Barnabas Parish.

Nearly 1,000 viewers have watched the Gaelic Mass either on St. Barnabas Facebook or AOH Youtube.

TRIBUTE

In his sermon Fr. Fitzgerald paid a special tribute to Jim Lombard a leader in the Irish American community, who had just passed away and was being waked at St. Margaret’s.

Following the Gaelic Mass, Martin Galvin President of Bronx County AOH said: 

“Gaelic Mass Day has gone from a local Bronx AOH event to become an important national event with AOH members across the country and viewers in Ireland joining on Facebook or Youtube. We are grateful to the parish, AOH and LAOH nationally, Irish government, local Irish community groups, and Irish language clubs who have given Gaelic Mass Day the importance it now holds. 

“The AOH exists to foster Irish traditions, ideals, culture and history. It is hard to imagine a ceremony that could embody everything the AOH stands for, better than Gaelic Mass Day“.  

“This year, with new British laws set to close down hopes of justice for families of victims killed in controversial circumstances during the Troubles, it was fitting to remember those who still Hunger and Thirst for justice”.

Senator Frances Black, the chairperson of Ireland’s Future, described as a driving force for a border vote under the Good Friday Agreement(GFA), told Irish Americans ‘we need you behind us‘ to get and win referendums for a United Ireland. She was joined by fellow Board Members Professor Colin Harvey and Andree Murphy in the live webinar program, IRELAND’S FUTURE-IRISH AMERICA’S ROLE, hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). The event, a follow-up to recent major conferences in Dublin and Belfast, was timed to coincide with the anniversary of Ireland’s historic Declaration of Independence made on January 21, 1919.

AFRAID TO SPEAK

One of Ireland’s most popular singers now also an Independent Senator, Frances Black, spoke about why she as an entertainer and native of Dublin, joined Ireland’s Future and was giving her time to chair the group. Her father had been born in County Antrim, and she had childhood memories of visits to relatives, wondering about why there were so many British soldiers in part of her country. The GFA provided for the reunification of Ireland, based upon majority votes in separate referendums held both North and South, but ‘people were afraid to have a conversation about a vote for a united Ireland’.

After being a speaker at an event about Brexit in 2018, she saw that ‘people were hungry for a dialogue about what a united Ireland would mean.’ Ireland’s Future came together following that event. The group maintains that Ireland is moving towards Constitutional referendums and that it is critical to have the necessary advance planning and preparation work for a united Ireland, to avoid the misinformation surrounding the Brexit referendum.

Senator Black said that Ireland’s Future had become a ‘driving force’ for Constitutional change to a united Ireland by holding public events, drawing huge crowds and nationalist political party leaders. However, she said ‘Ireland’s Future needs Irish America to get behind this work. Our politicians and the British government listen to America and we need Irish American help. Irish America played a key role in getting the GFA and you are crucial to us now’.

NO BYSTANDER

Professor Colin Harvey, heads the Queens University Belfast, Human Rights Centre and served as a former Commissioner on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. A Derry native now living in Belfast, he said he joined Ireland’s Future ‘because he was not going to be a bystander at a major moment in Irish history. I have always been committed to Irish reunification. I wanted to play my part’.

The GFA recognizes that Irish people have a legitimate right to aspire to and advocate a united Ireland, but Professor Harvey has been subjected to threats and attempts to intimidate him. Asked about his reaction to loyalist threats, given the fact that civil rights lawyers Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson were both murdered by loyalists, he said, ‘it goes with the territory. We cannot let ourselves be derailed or distracted.’

Professor Harvey said that ‘while some Unionist politicians might refuse to discuss having a referendum or talking about their place as equal citizens in a united Ireland, other Unionists, especially members of the business community, are willing to talk seriously’.

He made a special plea for American pressure on the Irish government to press the British to announce a referendum, asking ‘how can we put pressure on the British government if the Irish government is not taking it seriously enough to put on the agenda for British Irish conferences?‘

CONGRESSIONAL LETTER

Journalist and political commentator, Andree Murphy, cited Legacy justice, and Brexit, as prime examples of Westminster making laws to serve English interests, regardless of the impact in Ireland. The British have announced they will advance their Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill to parliamentary committee this week. The amnesty bill would remove all effective legal channels to get truth in legacy cases and is being moved forward despite opposition from all political parties in the six counties.

She noted the recent death of campaigner Jim McCabe, whose wife Norah was shot and killed with a plastic bullet after Joe McDonnell’s death on Hunger Strike in 1981. The British claimed she was killed during a riot. Canadian television footage showed there were no street disturbances, but no one was brought to justice. Jim McCabe is simply the latest victims’ relative who died without ever seeing justice for a loved one murdered during the Troubles.

Now the British government wants to shut down justice for everyone. She called the amendments which were supposed to improve the bill an ‘absolute insult.’ Families who have been waiting for inquests for decades may now never see one.

Ms. Murphy said that ‘Irish America was the only hope that victims’ relatives have for justice because the British have ignored the Irish government, all six County political parties, the United Nations and Europe. The British worry about America and Congressional protest that show the strength of Irish America’.

IRISH DECLARATION

During the webinar, Hibernians posted the Irish Declaration of Independence, which was issued by the First Dail Eireann or Irish Parliament 104 years earlier. There representatives chosen in a 32 county election, declared Ireland’s right to national independence. Instead Britain partitioned the country. Ireland’s Future is seeking to fulfill that declaration.

The webinar has already attracted one of the largest viewings hosted by the AOH, with a growing number of views daily on YouTube. A number of Irish-American organizations supported the program including the Irish American Unity Conference, Brehon Law Society, Irish Northern Aid, 1916 Society and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians”.

Last April, Hibernians across the country joined a special live webinar broadcast from the Houben Centre, Holy Cross Church, in Belfast, where two weeks earlier an event with the Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney had to be cancelled because of loyalist bomb threats. This year’s 15 grant recipients spoke about their work for freedom for all Ireland, and how much they count on Christmas Appeal donations. The Hibernian Grants Presentation is posted and can be viewed on AOH YouTube.

Grants were awarded to justice campaigners like Relatives for Justice, Ballymurphy Massacre Committee, Bloody Sunday Trust and the Witness Project; groups helping exprisoners or bereaved like EALU and Green Cross; heritage groups like the St. Patrick Centre and Duchas Oriall; groups keeping patriot graves like Belfast National Graves and Tyrone National Graves ; Cross-community groups like the Houben Peace Centre Project, Bridges Beyond Boxing Omagh Thunder Basketball; and commemorative groups like the O’Neill-Allsopp Flute Band and Greater New Lodge Committee.

Meanwhile, the new British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak is moving ahead with an amnesty bill to shut down any path to legacy justice, encouraging loyalist opposition as an excuse to undermine the Brexit protocol agreement, and saying it is up to Britain whether to ever allow the Irish a vote on reunification.
Tory economic policies designed to serve England’s wealthy are disastrous for the six counties, with the lasting damage already being felt, especially by those working for freedom for all Ireland. They fear that rising costs and a weakened currency will force cutbacks on crucial work they now provide, indeed for some groups threaten their ability to survive. These groups are appealing to the AOH!
The message was clear. Because Rishi Sunak and the British want to close down work for freedom for all Ireland, these grant recipients desperately need us to come through for them this year! We cannot let down those working for freedom for all Ireland, at a time when their work is needed most.
I am personally appealing to every State, County and Division President, to take a lead, find a way to donate through special fundraising or donations from funds. Don’t let them down! Help make Freedom for all Ireland, not an aspiration or endeavor but the reality for those Irish people still denied it!

Regards,
Martin

“Ireland Unfree Shall Never Be at Peace”

Donate to the AOH FFAI Christmas Appeal Download FFAI Appeal Packet

The Westchester County Legislature proclaimed “Gaelic Mass Day,” as viewers from as far away as Texas, California and Ireland itself, joined Hibernians wearing sashes and medallions, Irish community groups, Irish speakers and parishioners, for a Mass said in Irish by Fr. Brendan Fitzgerald at St. Barnabas on Saturday September 17th. Bronx County Ancient Order of Hibernians’ 4th annual Gaelic Mass, again made a national Hibernian event by President Danny O’Connell, was carried live on the parish Facebook and AOH YouTube. This year the Irish Language Mass included special prayers for victims’ families “who hunger and thirst for justice”, remembering families who have been fighting for justice for loved ones murdered during the Troubles, and now face planned British amnesty laws opposed by the Irish government, all Irish political parties and the Catholic Bishops.

Pipers

The ceremony began with pipers Dermot Moore, and Bronx Division 5 President Pat O’Hara leading Fr. Fitzgerald and Hibernians into the Church. New York State AOH was represented by State Secretary Tom Beirne, with Ladies LAOH National President Marilyn Madigan represented by LAOH NY State Freedom for all Ireland Chair, Joan Moore.

Proclamation

County Legislator, David Tubiolo, announced that the Westchester had officially declared “Gaelic Mass Day” bringing a Proclamation which memorized the importance of the Irish Language, as well as the plight of those seeking truth and justice about victims of Ireland’s 1969-98 Troubles, and the Irish Mass Rocks where outlawed Masses had been said in secret by outlawed priests, under English Penal Laws in Ireland. Booklets containing Irish-English translations of the prayers, were handed out to those coming into St. Barnabas, or downloaded by viewers on facebook. These booklets allowed everyone to follow the prayers in English as they listened to the Irish words.

Readings in Irish were done by Irish Deputy Consul General Sean OhAodha and Mairead Greenan, of the Emerald Isle Immigration Center.

A special music program in Irish was provided by the Dawn Doherty Academy of Irish music and singing, with performers including Dawn Doherty, Frankie McCormick ,Bridget Feery, Molly O Loughlin, Siena O’Brien, Maureen Rutledge, Rachel Cummins, Shannon O’Shea ,Lily Kenny ,Maggie Feehan, Jenna Byrne, Jimmy Grady, Jane Quinn, and Emer Moylan. 

Local Irish community groups supporting the Gaelic Mass included the, Aisling Irish Center, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, Brooklyn Irish Club and of course St. Barnabas Parish.

Truth Foundation of Justice

In his sermon Fr. Fitzgerald quoted Pope John Paul II, who said ‘there is no peace without justice, and no justice without truth.’ Fr. Fitzgerald said ‘truth is the foundation of justice and peace, and we must never lose our passion for truth in order to gain a perception of peace’.

He cited the example of a boyhood hero Terence MacSwiney, the Lord Mayor of Cork who gave his life on hunger strike protesting being imprisoned by unjust British laws during the Black and Tan War.

Fr. Fitzgerald also said he wanted to “acknowledge the heroic sacrifice of our ancestors who gathered at Mass Rocks deep in the woods or forests, putting their lives on the line simply to hear Mass in their own language in defiance of Penal Laws.”

Following the Gaelic Mass, Martin Galvin President of Bronx County AOH said:

“Gaelic Mass Day has gone from a local Bronx AOH event to become a national event with AOH members across the country wanting to be a part of it. We are grateful to the parish, AOH and LAOH nationally, Irish government, local Irish community groups, Irish language clubs, and musicians who helped give this celebration of the Irish language the importance it now holds”.

“The AOH exists to foster Irish traditions, ideals, culture and history. It is hard to imagine a ceremony that could embody everything the AOH stands for, better than Gaelic Mass Day”.

“This year, as the British government moves to enact laws designed to close down hopes of justice for families of victims killed in controversial circumstances during the Troubles, it was fitting to remember those who still Hunger and Thirst for justice”.

GFA Committee

Fergus O’Dowd, a Fine Gael party member of the Irish parliament or Dail from County Louth, chairs the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Committee (GFA Committee) which includes Irish Dail and Seanad members, plus British Parliament MPs elected from the six counties. The GFA Committee deals with all issues arising from Good Friday Agreement, and is accordingly deeply concerned about legacy justice.

In Washington DC last June, AOH members, accompanied by Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice, met GFA Committee members, including Fergus O’Dowd TD, and Rose Conway-Walsh TD. During these meetings AOH President Danny O’Connell asked the GFA Committee to recommend that the Irish government investigate taking Britain to the European Court of Human Rights over the planned amnesty bill. An Irish government case at the European Court, would spare victims’ relatives years of legal delays spent exhausting local remedies in Crown and Appellate courts, before the European Court could consider the case.

O’Dowd, with approval from the full GFA Committee has made a formal written request calling upon Attorney General Paul Gallagher, to examine the British amnesty bill ‘with a view to taking an interstate case should you determine that the legislation contravenes the UK’s obligations under Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights’.

JCIGFA – Letter to AG re UK Legacy Legislation

Rose Conway-Walsh, a Sinn Fein party Dail member from county Mayo, and another influential member of the GFA Committee, recently attended a British-Irish Association conference. She asked Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin, ‘is the Irish government looking at a legal path to take Britain to the European Court of Human Rights?’ She feels ‘it is not okay for Britain to make agreements then break them at will’.

She was told that the Irish government wants to give the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss, an opportunity to withdraw the amnesty bill and resume genuine negotiations with Ireland on legacy, before making a final decision to indict Britain in the European Court.

Lord’s Perspective

Nuala O’Loan, a former Police Ombudsman, now a Baroness sitting in the British House of Lord is also member of the Independent Steering Group for Operation Kenova, investigating killings by British agent Freddie Scappaticci, who had infiltrated the Irish Republican Army. She said that while her role in the House of Lords would be to propose amendments to fix the amnesty bill, but ‘this bill is broken and cannot be fixed’.

‘This bill provides there will be inquests, no prosecutions and no civil actions and without those three things, victims will not have their civil rights and legal rights’.

Baroness O’Loan said she had had held numerous meetings with British officials who say they are open to amendments, but has seen no indications from new Prime Minister Liz Truss or her appointed secretary Chris Heaton-Harris that there will be any change in British policy on legacy despite the opposition of all Irish political parties, the Council of Europe, United Nations and Human Rights Commissioner.

Pat Finucan Link

Victims’ representatives, Sean Slane and Elizabeth Hughes, each described the killing of their loved ones, and said their families would be devastated if British laws took away their chances for justice. Sean Slane at age 9, saw the murder of his father Gerard Slane, in September 1988. Loyalist gunmen smashed into their Belfast home with a sledgehammer, shooting his father, who tried to hold back the killers. Bullets had also been sprayed into the Sean’s bed. The Royal Ulster Constabulary called the murder a random sectarian attack by unidentified loyalists.

However, years later the de Silva review into the murder of Civil Rights lawyer Pat Finucane, revealed that British agent Brian Nelson, working for the British Army’s Force Research Unit (FRU), played a leading role in targeting Gerard Slane, providing his photograph, address and other information to the killer gang. Despite advance word from Nelson, the RUC made no attempt to warn the victim, nor arrest the killers, leaving them free to carry out the Finucane murder 5 months later. The Attorney General ordered a new Inquest, but that inquest is now threatened by the new Amnesty law.

Bill of Shame

Elizabeth Hughes’ uncle Gavin McShane, began life as a ‘miracle baby’ miraculously surviving a bombing attack by the notorious Glenanne Gang, which severely wounded his pregnant mother, only to be shot dead by another loyalist murder gang seventeen years later. Both John Weir, and Billy McCaughey who planted the bomb, were serving members of the RUC. The gang headed by British agent, Robin Jackson, is believed guilty of carrying out 120 murders, including the Dublin-Monaghan Bombings and Miami Showband Massacre.

Seventeen years later, Gavin McShane and another college student Shane McArdle were shot dead by another British agent Alan Oliver. The killer was unmasked as he walked across the road and shot the innocent schoolboys. Alan Oliver carried out numerous killings, but never arrested because he is a protected British agent. Gavin McShane’s family filed a civil suit against the RUC to get justice, but this civil suit could be voided by an amnesty bill which Ms. Hughes described as a ‘bill of shame.’

Mark Thompson, of Relatives for Justice spoke of the ‘heartbreak, cutting across generations, felt by thousands of victims RfJ represents, who have spent decades seeking truth about the murder of their loved ones, and now see the British government taking away all of their rights to justice enshrined under the European Convention of Human Rights and Good Friday Agreement.’

The Ancient Order of Hibernians National Freedom for All Ireland Chairman Martin Galvin added:
“The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill would mean heartbreak and injustice for the families of hundreds of victims like the Slane and McShane families, who have spent decades fighting for truth. The injustice cuts across generations and is deeply felt by those like Elizabeth Hughes who was not even born when her uncle Gavin McShane was murdered.”

“During the summer we saw key Congressional opposition including a House Foreign Affairs Committee Briefing chaired by Congressman Keating, and a letter co-signed by more than 30 Members of Congress to Nuala O’Loan and other key members of the British House of Lords.”

“Every speaker on this panel said that American opposition to this legacy whitewash is crucial, and appealed to the AOH and Irish Americans across the country. We must not let them down.”

Leading Hibernians, joined by Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice, secured crucial Senate, House, and Irish Oireachtas support against the planned British Amnesty bill last week in Washington. The emergency lobby took place as Britain moves to rush through an amnesty bill despite overwhelming opposition across Ireland. A key public statement by Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, a new House Foreign Affairs Committee initiative, and backing for an Irish government case against Britain in the European Court of Human Rights, wereamong results which made the week one of the most importantlobbying missions by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in memory.

Senate

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer agreed to meet three leading AOH members, President Danny O’Connell, Vice-President Sean Pender, and Freedom for all Ireland Chair Martin Galvin, accompanied by Mark Thompson for an emergency briefing on the British Northern Ireland Troubles Legacy and Reconciliation Bill. A visiting Irish Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee, comprised of elected Senators, Members of Parliament, and Dail representatives, requested to attend and support the call for legacy justice. The Chair of the GFA Committee Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd, and Sinn MP John Finucane were added as attendees.

 Mark Thompson, presented a briefing document on the British legislation and a copy of the Good Friday Agreement, then described the ‘heartbreak, cutting across generations, felt by thousands of victims RfJ represents, who have spent decades seeking truth about the murder of their loved ones, and now see the British government taking away all of their rights to justice enshrined under the European Convention of Human Rights and Good Friday Agreement.

Martin Galvin said that ‘American opposition in the Senate and House is believed to be the one thing which has delayed passage of the amnesty bill thus far and a strong statement from the Senate Majority Leader could make a crucial difference’. 

Danny O’Connell noted that ‘all parties in the north, nationalist and unionist agree on very little but they are all opposed to the British amnesty bill’ while Sean Pender added that ‘all these victims want is the truth which has always been on their side.’

John Finucane MP said ‘These proposals are about protecting those in the corridors of power at Whitehall and Westminster.’

Fergus O’Dowd TD added the ’bill was opposed by all groups and communities in the north with whom the GFA Committee had spoken and by leading political parties in the south’.

Schumer Statement

That afternoon Senator Schumer responded with issued a strongly worded statement which said in part:

   “I was pleased today to meet with Irish American leaders from AOH and leading Irish human rights advocates and elected representatives — including elected representatives John Finucane and Fergus O’Dowd — on a number of matters, including the unwelcome and unjustified amnesty legislation and the recently proposed legislation to unilaterally undermine the already negotiated and agreed upon Northern Irish Protocol. 

“The proposed amnesty legislation would severely undermine both the system of engagement and institutions of justice set forth in the Good Friday Agreement and the Stormont House Agreement, which gave victims access to pursue truth and justice. The proposed amnesty legislation is unilateral and unwelcome by virtually all parties, as well as unjustified by the facts and history. I sincerely hope it will not gain support because it would serve to derail truth, reconciliation and justice for so many victims and would hurt, not help, the ongoing intent of the Good Friday Agreement to promote and preserve peace, mutual respect and shared prosperity. 

Mark Thompson and the AOH members also gave an hour long briefing to Senate Foreign Relations Committee staff membersand held meetings with State Department officials to consider follow-up plans to Senator Schumer’s statement.

House Foreign Affairs

The AOH and Mark Thompson then held a series of briefings on the Amnesty bill with key members of the House of Representatives. Congressman Bill Keating the Chair of the Hose Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe suggested given the emergency timeframe, he might be able to arrange a special briefing where members could hear from witnesses and then make their own statements in opposition to the bill. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican on the Committee agreed to support this initiative.

The delegation then held a series of key meetings with Democrats Brendan Boyle, David Cicilline, and Jamal Bowman, and Republicans Chris Smith, Mike Kelly and Burgess Owens to ask support and participation in a House Foreign Affairs briefing.

Other briefings were held with House Foreign Affairs Committee staff and with key staffers for Congressman Richie Neal and Brian Higgins.

Good Friday Committee

AOH members, with Mark Thompson also met members of the GFA Committee delegation including Fergus O’Dowd TD, Peadar ToibinTD, John Finucane MP,Rose Conway-Walsh TDand Senator John McGahon

During this meeting Danny O’Connell asked the GFA Committee to recommend that the Irish government consider taking Britain to the European Court of Human Rights over the planned amnesty bill. An Irish government case at the European Court, could represent victims across the 32 counties and spare victims’ relatives’ years of delays exhausting local remedies in Crown and Appellate courts, before European Courts could consider the case. 

Fergus O’Dowd, the Committee Chair said he would back such a move and recommend it to the full GFA Committee for approval.

As leader of the oldest and largest Irish American organization, he wanted to congratulate and commend the visiting Congressional delegation led by House Ways and Means,and Friends of Ireland Chairman Richie Neal, for their forthright comments on the protocol issue in the face of the somewhat hysterical criticism by the Democratic Unionist Party.

AOH National President Danny O’Connell said:

Chairman Richie Neal and the members of Congress traveling with him have a long –term knowledge and deep seated interest in Irish issues that stands in sharp contrast to most British Secretaries sent to administer the six counties by Westminster. The British government negotiated a comprehensive withdrawal agreement with the European Community. Instead of ironing out any difficulties by mutual agreement in good faith negotiation, the British government seems poised to just discard provisions in the agreement it does not like. At the same time Britain pushes an amnesty bill which discards its Stormont House Agreement and closes down any chances of getting legacy justice for hundreds of families.

Surely, America or any country negotiating an agreement with Britain, must be cautious about negotiations with a government that does not keep its word.

Unionist criticism is particularly ironic. When the north voted against Brexit, Arlene Foster as First Minister lectured that no region within Britain could overrule the wishes of an entire country. The Stormont Assembly vote produced a majority in favor of the Protocol, but she wants a Unionist veto overruling both the wishes of six county voters and the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by Britain.

As National President of America’s oldest and largest Irish American organization, the AOH, I want to commend and congratulate Chairman Neal and the other members of the Congressional delegation traveling with him, for speaking much needed hard truths to Britain and Unionists in the debate on the protocol.

AOH National President Danny O’Connell said

The Springhill Massacre families have been fighting for an inquest for just under 50 years. They have no doubt that an inquest would prove that on July 9, 1972, 5 people including a priest, three teenagers a father of six children were deliberately gunned down by British snipers and then smeared to justify their murder. Britain’s answer is to deny families inquests or any genuine hope of justice with a new amnesty bill designed to whitewash British versions of hundreds of Troubles murders.

I was given a full briefing and saw the locations of the killings with family members. I will report back to our membership across the United States, and we will bring this information to our elected representatives. 

Today’s visit follows a series of meetings which I held this week with Irish government officials including Leo Varadkar and spoke of AOH American initiatives for all of those fighting for legacy justice. We had a 50 American delegation meet these families in April and spearheaded the passage of House Resolution 888 in Congress which opposed British Amnesty plans.
 
Victims’ relatives are entitled to get the truth about the killings of their loved ones. These families are never giving up. I am standing with them today to say the AOH and indeed Irish America will stand with them in their long battle to get that truth and justice.

Congressional Pledge

Congressman Jamaal Bowman, was one of the co-sponsors of House Resolution 888, passed on St. Patrick’s Day where Congress went on record:

‘Opposes any attempt by the British Government to implement amnesty or statute of limitation laws that would end or inhibit investigations and prosecutions of crimes committed during the Troubles, including on Bloody Sunday.’

 He said he was ‘strongly opposed is to the British government’s decision to move forward with the Amnesty bill and cut off chances for hundreds of families to get the truth about the murder of loved ones…these families have a right to justice and instead of offering amnesty the British government should be trying to meet its obligations under international law, the Good Friday Agreement and Stormont House Agreement.”

He noted, his district includes the Bronx, and one of the cases involved was that of Liam Ryan, an American citizen and former Bronx resident who was murdered in a classic case of collusion.

Congressman Bowman pledged to ‘keep the legacy justice issue in the forefront in Congress and with the State Department.’

During a recent 10 day fact-finding tour Hibernians had received requests from victims’ families across the six counties who wanted to appeal for American help in their fight for justice. Two family representatives were selected.

Patricia Burns’ family had been campaigning for justice nearly 50 years. Her father had served in British Navy for ten years before returning to Belfast to marry. He was shot dead in July of 1972, by British troopers as he walked home. The inquest consisted of fabricated written statements from British troopers being read into the record and rubber-stamped.

She initiated a civil case to have a Belfast court issue a declaratory judgement that the British Amnesty proposal is illegal and has a pending application for a new inquest.

She said’ the last thing we have is hope and now the British want to take any hope away from us.’

  Christine and Kathleen Duffy spoke while holding up a photo of Seamus Duffy, age 15, when he was shot dead by Royal Ulster Constabulary members using a plastic bullet at point blank range. The killing was almost 5 years to the day, when RUC members had killed John Downes in a similar incident around Internment Day, and the RUC pledged that such bullets would never again be fired at close range.

Seamus was named after his mother’s brother, who had been shot by British troopers in 1972. The Attorney General has ordered new inquests for both cases but the new amnesty laws would wipe out inquests for the Duffy family and all others in Troubles cases. Kathleen Duffy said ‘all we are asking for is the truth about these killings and when I am gone my daughter Christine and my other children would carry on the fight for truth and justice.’

What Amnesty Bill Would Do

Civil rights lawyer Padraig Murray, then explained the full extent of what the British are planning. Last year the Ballymurphy Inquest verdict held that ten people including a Catholic priest and grandmother were shot dead without any legal justification or serious investigation. These cases were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions to be evaluated for prosecutions. The British plan to cut off any prosecutions of these or any other Troubles’ murders.

The British also want take away all rights to inquests. Inquests allow lawyers to question witnesses and challenge fabricated written statements. The solicitor gave an example of a loyalist who claimed Fr. Mullan picked up a rifle and hid it in his robes before being shot. Lawyers at the inquest were able to make nonsense of this claim with autopsy photos that showed Fr. Mullan was not even wearing priestly robes when shot. Information retrieval would allow the British to rubber-stamp made up statements by troopers.

Ombudsman investigations of the Royal Ulster Constabulary have resulted in damming reports of collusion and a Historical Investigations Unit as designed under the Stormont House Agreement could make similar findings about all Troubles killings. Any right to these proceedings or civil suits against the British would be taken away.

‘Families do not trust the British on legacy and they will challenge and fight these proposals in any way that they can.’

Irish Government

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney, sent a strong message to victims’ families from the Irish Seanad, noting that the British and Irish governments had made an internationally binding Stormont House Agreement with the political parties in 2014.

 The British are moving ahead unilaterally with something that significantly departs from that agreement. He said:

‘It is essential that both Governments and the political parties have real and considered discussion on any way forward on this deeply sensitive issue that still impacts many families deeply in Northern Ireland. Victims and families must, crucially, be brought into the consideration of any way forward. Unilateral action is not the way forward and will make matters worse, not better’.

Sinn Fein and SDLP

Representatives of Sinn Fein and the SDLP expressed their respective parties’ support for victims and opposition to the British proposals.

John Finucane MP, was introduced as a party representative of Sinn Fein and a victim’s family member whose father, civil rights lawyer Pat Finucane was murdered by British agents.

He noted that what the British are doing on legacy compounds the hurt felt by victims’ families, ‘not only the proposals themselves but the way the British go about it.’

He said the true motivation behind these proposals is that collusion and the full extent of Britain’s role in murders attributed to loyalists is being exposed. ‘These proposals are about protecting those in the corridors of power at Whitehall and Westminster.’

Alex Attwood who had been an elected representative in both the Belfast City Council and Stormont Assembly for 31 years, said ‘the voice of victims must be first and foremost.’He called the new proposals just ‘the latest version of delay and cover-up to deny victims the truth’.

He said the two SDLP MPs would be fighting these proposals at Westminster but warned that the British might try to fast-track amnesty through Westminster before the summer recess. The next 3-5 weeks will be crucial’.

Relatives for Justice

Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice added:

‘Today there are eleven hundred civil cases within the courts, 450-plus cases with the Ombudsman, 40-plus inquests awaiting hearings with scores more on the desk of the attorney general, 1,130 cases with the PSNI’s Legacy Investigations Branch, and Operation Kenova and its new work – legacy is not going

Worse, we are told the above processes are not working and cannot work by the very same government that has ensured they cannot work whilst simultaneously telling victims what they propose is in their best interests’.

Meetings

AOH National President Danny O’Connell noted that he is traveling to Ireland this week and will raise the issue of legacy justice in meetings with Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, and other Irish and American officials as well as meeting victims’ families’ to assure them of continuing support.

National Vice-President Sean Pender said that ‘victims like Patricia Burns, Christine Duffy and Kathleen Duffy, like those we met during our fact-finding visit were an inspiration to Irish Americans and we will continue to support them.’

AOH Freedom for All Ireland Chair Martin Galvin said:

“In the past two months we have seen Brandon Lewis, Conor Burns and Lord Caine come to America and claim that these Amnesty proposals are intended to give victims truth and draw a line under the past. The British government would not be expending so much effort unless Irish American opposition was making a difference.

 The victims’ families say these new British proposals would shut down any path to legacy justice and deprive them of basic rights guaranteed under the Good Friday Agreement and international law. Britain’s Amnesty proposals would not draw a line under the past, but add a new chapter of hurt and injustice. They will not herald an end to the battle for legacy truth, but merely begin a new round of legal fights in British and European Courts, that will cut across new generations.

Irish America must continue to stand behind these courageous families in their fight for justice.”

Congressman Bowman

The fifty member fact-finding delegation held its first major event in Tyrone, at the Battery Bar Ardboe, where American citizen and longtime Bronx resident Liam Ryan was murdered by off-duty members of the British Army’s Ulster Defense Regiment. Here Hibernians joined with relatives and friends of the murder victim, for the launch of a special case study in collusion report by Relatives for Justice.

RfJ announced they had received a Congressional intervention by Congressman Jamal Bowman, who wrote, “Your investigation and report on Mr. Ryan’s murder on November 29, 1989, is expected to raise important questions whether the family of this American citizen was denied justice because British crown forces were culpable in his murder…I am requesting a copy of your report and intend to monitor any progress you may make with the Police Ombudsman, courts, or other legal channels in getting the truth about the murder of Liam Ryan”.  

  Relatives for Justice then reported overwhelming proof of collusion in this murder along with 17 others using the same weapons over a 5 year period. The Royal Ulster Constabulary seemed to celebrate at the murder scene, and conducted nothing resembling a murder investigation. Relatives for Justice was calling for an investigation by the PSNI Constabulary Ombudsman into this murder, while Liam’s widow had applied for a new inquest. His family feared that all such paths to justice would be cut off by the British amnesty proposals.

 In Dungannon, Hibernians heard from Peadar Thompson, of Relatives for Justice, on the targeting of members of the Gaelic Athletic Association. Frankie Quinn of EALU (Escape), talked about the continuing impact of the Troubles on ex-prisoners and their families. Gerry McGeough gave an inside view of the historic campaign to elect Bobby Sands MP in 1981.

DUP Meeting in Derry

In Derry SDLP Party Leader Colum Eastwood flew directly from a Westminster debate about investigating Boris Johnson’s conduct, to brief the delegation on his party’s strategy to get legacy justice. Hibernians met Democratic Unionist Party Mayor Graham Warke, at the Derry Guildhall, for a wide ranging discussion of legacy issues, along with Derry Councilor Conor Heaney representing Sinn Fein and Emmet Doyle representing Aontu.

 Hibernians then met Bloody Sunday family members John Kelly and Tony Doherty at the Museum of Free Derry to discuss the implications of the amnesty proposals for Bloody Sunday prosecutions. They also thanked Hibernians and all those who supported HR 888, Congressman Keating’s Resolution to give Bloody Sunday justice and oppose and British amnesty plans.

Belfast

Hibernians traveled to Belfast for an emotional visit to the site of the Springhill-Westrock Massacre, where on July 9^th 1972, British troopers following a ceasefire, shot five people including Catholic priest Fr. Noel Fitzpatrick, Paul Butler, Margaret Gargan 13, John Dougal 16, and David McCafferty 16. Relatives of each victim described the massacre and how they have waited years for the inquest, which is now threatened by new British amnesty proposals.

The delegation then attended a special program “Victims and Survivors Symposium on Dealing With the Past”. Families representing plastic bullet victims, the New Lodge Massacre victims in 1973, the victims of the Operation Greenwich killings from 1989-94 and in the Operation Achille killings in the Ormeau Road area 1989-1994, spoke about the emotional impact of these murders and their fight for justice and truth. This session was chaired by RFJ Deputy Director Andrée Murphy.

 Leading legacy solicitors Niall Murphy, and Patricia Coyle, joined Mark Thompson CEO of Relatives for Justice for analysis of the current barriers which face families, who have been searching for basic truths and access to justice for decades in a session chaired by Professor Mark McGovern.

The symposium was attended by representatives from the Department of Justice, Executive Office, PSNI, Police Ombudsman’s office, and the Victims’ Commissioner.

HOUBEN CENTRE

One of the key events of the tour was the presentations of more than $100,000 dollars in Freedom for all Ireland grants to 15 approved applicants, during a live webinar from the Houben Centre, where loyalists recently disrupted a peace lecture by Irish Tanaiste and Foreign Minister Simon Coveney.

Dublin

The FFAI mission then spent its final two days in Dublin, where it held discussions on legacy with US Ambassador Clare Cronin, and Irish government Department of Foreign Affairs representatives led by Ciaran Madden and Helena Nolan.

Hibernians then met Fine Gael TDs Neale Richmond and Fergus O’Dowd, and Fianna Fail members Brendan Fitzgerald TD and Senator Niall Blaney.

On its final day in Dublin, the delegation saw Sinn Fein Party leader Mary Lou McDonald, got updates on the Ireland’s Future campaign from Senator Frances Black in a talk attended by Sinn Fein Senator Niall Donnghaile, and got a preview of an upcoming book on the part played by Irish America during 1970-94 conflict years, from Professor Ruan O’Donnell and author Robert Collins.

AOH Freedom-for -all-Ireland Chair Martin Galvin noted:

“Families across the six counties say the AOH and other Irish American organizations have succeeded in playing a crucial role in delaying the British proposals for an amnesty whitewash. However Britain is now moving ahead to take away basic rights to Inquests, Ombudsman Investigations, criminal prosecutions and civil action. Victims’ relatives are counting on us in their fight for legacy justice.

“Meanwhile the reception and interest that this AOH-LAOH delegation received from all government and party leaders shows that Irish America is playing a part that is highly respected. “It is crucial now more than ever that we continue to bring the facts back across America in support of those still denied justice and truth, especially in Congress.”

The Operation Greenwich findings of Royal Ulster Constabulary collusive behavior made by Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson, were the latest legal proceedings, upholding charges of British state culpability or complicity in murders. The 336 page report investigated RUC conduct in relation to 19 murders done by the UDA/UFF between 1989 and 1993.

The AOH webinar, took place the day before the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and was supported by other Irish American organizations including the IAUC, LAOH, Brehons and Irish Northern Aid.

Congressional Initiative

Congressman Fitzpatrick opened the broadcast by announcing House Resolution 888, introduced by Massachusetts Congressman William Keating. The measure dealing with justice for Bloody Sunday, also ‘Opposes any attempt by the British government to implement amnesty or statute of limitation laws that would end or inhibit investigations and prosecutions of crimes committed during the Troubles, including on Bloody Sunday’.

Congressman Fitzpatrick called ‘the findings of collusion between the RUC with loyalists beyond deeply disturbing’ and said ‘Britain is wrongly denying victims the truth they are entitled to and the justice they deserve.’

He had co-sponsored Congressional letters to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Secretary of State House Antony Blinken against Britain’s amnesty plan, and was now urging the AOH, and members of other Irish American organizations to call Congressmen to support this initiative.

British Insult Victims

Fiona O’Hagan said her husband Bernard O’Hagan, a lecturer at Magherafelt Technical College, ‘became a target’ after he won election for Sinn Fein to the local council and had agreed to run for Westminster. He was followed, stopped and subjected to body searches by RUC and Ulster Defense Regiment patrols on his way to work or Council meetings. His file was among 254 found at the home of a loyalist, who served with the UDR, and RUC files containing his personal details were displayed at a public dump.

However the RUC never warned him he was at risk.

Bernard O’Hagan, the father of three young children, was murdered when he arrived at the college on September 16, 1991.As Fiona drove to the scene, ‘there were no checkpoints. UDR

members were parked at the side of the road laughing and joking. There was no serious effort to stop anybody’.

Despite promises of progress reports about the hunt to catch the killers, she was never even contacted by the RUC or PSNI. She felt ‘this report validates what we said from the day of the murder, that there was collusion between state forces and the killers.’

She said of Britain’s amnesty plan ‘There is no justice if you do what Boris said- draw a line under it and move on. That is an insult to every victim of the Troubles.’

Her husband had carried a memorial card for another murdered councilor, John Davey, which contained the words ’For my sake and in my name live on and do all things the same’. She urged those listening to keep up the fight for justice in that same spirit.

RUC Threats

Una Casey was in bed alongside her husband, Gerard Casey, on April 4, 1989 when he was murdered. Loyalists broke down their door with a sledgehammer, proceeded directly to the bedroom and shot him in front of her and their infant child. Six months earlier, RUC members had taken Gerard Casey into Castlereagh Barracks and told him ‘he would be shot and it would be blamed on loyalists.’

The RUC had confiscated his legally held shotgun, which he might have been able to use to protect himself, and drew a detailed map of the house. One member of the UDR had attended intelligence briefings by the RUC and British Army which could have helped plan the murder.

For months prior to the murder, there had been vehicle checkpoints saturating the area, but these checkpoints were withdrawn days before the murder.

She said ‘we knew from the day of the murder, by the way we were treated and how the RUC and UDAR reacted there was collusion.

The RUC and UDR continued to threaten and intimidate her and her children until they moved to Donegal.’ Una Casey was insulted by a senior RUC member who called Gerard Casey a criminal, because he had been an IRA Volunteer. Una Casey said ‘Gerard was not a criminal but a patriot’.

Nineteen Families

Mark Thompson, of Relatives for Justice gave an overview on the implications of all 19 cases, as the British plan new British to halt Ombudsman proceedings in legacy cases.

He began by praising the dignity and courage of all of the victims’ families who kept on seeking truth despite British efforts to block them. He said that loyalist killer gangs were ‘armed, directed and controlled by the British’ part of a strategy to rearm and re-deploy loyalists, overseen at the highest levels of British intelligence. They recruited agents at command levels of loyalist groupings; allowed weapons to be imported to loyalists from South Africa; gave them intelligence files on targets; shepherded killers to murder sites; and insured there would be no investigations or records kept.

Irish Government

Representing the Irish government, New York Consul General Helena Nolan also praised the courage of Fiona O’Hagan, Una Casey and other victims, and called the issue of legacy justice a ‘great priority and strong focus of the Irish government and particularly of Foreign Minister Simon Coveney’.

She said the British amnesty proposal ‘is not one which the Irish government could support.’ The Irish government opposes any unilateral changes in the Stormont House Agreement legacy mechanisms that were agreed after intense negotiations. She also noted the determination of the Bloody Sunday families, and that both Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Foreign Minister Coveney would be in Derry to mark the 50th anniversary.

All-Party Support

Senator Emer Currie of Fine Gael spoke about an all-party motion in the Irish Seanad unanimously rejecting Britain’s Command Paper legacy proposals. She said Britain’s amnesty proposals were ‘not just a lockdown on law but also a suppression of truth and justice. Without criminal investigations, how do you get to truth?’

Peadar Toibin TD, of Aontu, said that ‘what the British are trying to do is get away with murder … but when a state murders its citizens, it is especially chilling, especially wrong.’

‘Republicans were pursued and jailed but British forces were never even investigated’.

Sinn Fein representative to America, Ciaran Quinn said that these nineteen collusion killings ‘were not something that began in the late 1980s, but were part of an orchestrated British policy to intimidate Republicans and nationalists.’

‘This policy of intimidation was behind Internment 1971-5, the Ballymurphy Massacre, Bloody Sunday, shoot-to-kill and the collusion killings in the late 80s and early 90s. It had never succeeded.

Other speakers included AOH National President, Danny O’Connell, Vice President Sean Pender, and Freedom for all Ireland Chairs Dolores Desch and Martin Galvin.

Last Wednesday British Secretary Brandon Lewis pledged that he was “absolutely committed” to legislate an amnesty for all Troubles killings. Danny O’Connell, National President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians traveled to Belfast to meet the Springhill Massacre families, New Lodge Six families and Sean Graham’s Bookmakers Massacre Families in meetings arranged by Relatives for Justice. He pledged that the powerful Irish American organization is “absolutely committed” to support these and other legacy victims’ families in their battle for truth.

AOH National President Danny O’Connell said:

Three years ago I toured Ballymurphy and met families who insisted that 10 of their relatives, including a Catholic priest and mother of 8 children were murdered. Ballymurphy just wanted their chance in an Inquest court to challenge British excuses for massacring their friends and loved ones. The verdict proved that what these Ballymurphy families had said for fifty years was the truth, and all the British excuses for these murders were lies.

Now the Springhill Massacre and New Lodge Six families want their day in an inquest court, while the Sean Graham’s Bookmakers families await an uncensored report by the Constabulary Ombudsman.

The Springhill Massacre families said that an inquest would prove that on July 9, 1972, 5 people including a priest, three teenagers a father of six children were deliberately gunned down by British snipers and then smeared to justify their murder.

The New Lodge Six families are confident that an inquest would exonerate their loved ones and prove that on February 3-4, 1973, British Army snipers or loyalists working in collusion with British troopers murdered six in the New Lodge.

Relatives and survivors of the Sean Graham’s Bookmakers Massacre expect that an uncensored overdue Ombudsman Report would prove 5 victims were murdered in a clear case of crown force collusion with loyalists. Checkpoints by both the Royal Ulster Constabulary and Ulster Defense Regiment were set up near the scene, then withdrawn to make way for the attack.

If the British did not know these families were right, why are they trying block the truth from coming out in an Inquest Court or a report by their own Constabulary Ombudsman? Why are they demanding censorship restrictions to bury the truth about joint action between British state forces and their loyalist criminal allies?

I was given a full briefing and see the locations of the killings with family members. I will report back to our membership across the United States, and we will bring this information to our elected representatives. The AOH will follow this briefing by series of initiatives for all of those fighting for legacy justice. We are announcing a 50 member American delegation will meet these families in January.

Victims’ relatives are entitled to get the truth about the killings of their loved ones. These families are never giving up. I am standing with them today to say the AOH and indeed Irish America will stand with them in their long battle to get that truth and justice.”

The British government negotiated the Stormont House Agreement with the Irish government in December 2014.They did not keep their word. They just refuse to keep it and then then solemnly say it is not working.

They made a 599 page Withdrawal Agreement with a protocol and just refuse to keep that agreement.

Why should anyone trust Britain to keep their word?”

Congressman Brendan Boyle, Irish Consul General Ciaran Madden, and representatives of Irish and British political parties, joined with Irish Americans across the country, to hear victims’ relatives and survivors appeal for help to stop Britain from taking away their rights to legacy justice. Jacqueline Butler, daughter of a Springhill Massacre victim, Steven Travers a survivor of the Miami Showband Massacre, and Martin Mallon, whose aunt Roseann Mallon was one of 17 collusion murder victims killed with the same weapons, each described how the new British legacy plans would remove their legal path to truth. The moving appeal, made in a webinar broadcast hosted by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, on Saturday, July 17th, was answered with pledges by participants to help make Britain keep the promise of legacy justice.

BURYING LEGACY TRUTH

The new British proposals, titled ‘Addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past’, were described as a plan to bury Britain’s legacy in the north’s conflict. Britain will enact an Amnesty dressed up as a statute of limitations, so that no one could be prosecuted for murders during the Troubles. While ostensibly applying to all killings, the real beneficiary would be members of the British Army, and Royal Ulster Constabulary, who never faced charges for murders like those in Ballymurphy or collusion killings. During the Troubles, crown forces and non-jury Diplock Courts had no hesitancy in jailing Republicans, while only a literal handful of British troopers were jailed for conflict killings.

Britain will also use the statute of limitations gimmick to take away legal rights to inquests and civil actions, to prevent more proceedings, like the Ballymurphy inquest, from revealing more embarrassing truth about British crown killings.

Britain wants to remove the Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) from its Stormont House legacy mechanisms, agreed with the Irish government in December 2014. An HIU conducting genuine investigations of all controversial killings is viewed by nationalists as the key component of Stormont House, which could give them truth in hundreds of other crown force or collusion killings.

Instead of an HIU, the British would create an Information Recovery Body, citing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa as a case study. South Africa required state force killers to reveal the truth as a condition of getting an amnesty. The British are giving amnesty in advance so that no one would have any incentive to come forward.

SPRINGHILL MASSACRE

Three victims and survivors then described what was at stake. Jacqueline Butler, the daughter of Paul Butler, spoke about the Springhill-Westrock Massacre and her 49 year battle for truth. On July 9th 1972, British snipers, following a ceasefire and formal peace talks with Republicans, murdered five people including Catholic priest Fr. Noel Fitzpatrick, Paul Butler, Margaret Gargan 13, John Dougal 16, and David McCafferty 16, in the Springhill-Westrock Massacre.

After one of the teenagers were shot, Fr. Fitzpatrick asked her father Paul Butler to help him locate the wounded victim.Fr. Fitzpatrick held up a white handkerchief. British troopers then shot her father and the priest. A teenage boy ran to help them and was also killed, while Margaret Gargan was shot while running for cover. The papers claimed that all five were gunmen wearing black. For years afterwards, British regiments repeatedly searched the family home and harassed widowed mother.

She said, ‘all we want is for the British to admit what they did.’ Her father’s inquest is scheduled for next year but now she finds it may never take place.

Stephen Travers said the British government is trying to take away all hope of justice. He was a member of the ‘Miami Showband’, returning from a performance when they were flagged by what seemed a routine British UDR checkpoint near Newry. They were ordered to stand by the road with their hands on their heads, while the uniformed men checked their van. Two members of Britain’s Ulster Defense Regiment – were planting a bomb under the driver’s seat when it exploded, killing both of them. The others opened fire, killing bandsmen Fran O’Toole, Brian McCoy, and Tony Geraghty. Stephen Travers was wounded and left for dead. The killers were connected to the Glenanne gang which killed 120 people and carried out the Dublin-Monaghan Bombings. He is now suing the British Ministry of Defense and Constabulary Chief Constable to because of proven British state involvement.

Martin Mallon, an ex-prisoner and well-known Republican in East Tyrone, described how his aunt Roseanne Mallon 76 was murdered and his mother wounded, shot by loyalists using the same weapons used in 17 collusion murders over a six year period including American citizen, Liam Ryan. British troopers were posted nearby and ordered not to intervene. He has been fighting to get a legacy investigation into the links between all of these killings would be expected to prove crown collusion.

CONGRESSMAN BOYLE

Congressman Brendan Boyle pledged his support and admiration for the victims who have suffered so much and never lose hope. The British government does care about the United States. He said this is a dangerous step where Britain rips up agreements that go back more than 20 years over the years. ‘As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I will not be interested in any Free Trade Agreement if the British continue to make agreements and violate them.’

Ciaran Madden, representing the Irish government, said that for the Irish government the Stormont House Agreement is our starting point and our ending point. There is no room for unilateral action by the British government.

Other speakers included, Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice, Neale Richmond and John Deasy of Fine Gael, Louise Haigh MP British Labour Party, Ciaran Quinn Sinn Fein, Susan Elliot of the National Committee Foreign Policy and members of the AOH and LAOH, led by National President Danny O’Connell.

Martin Galvin added:

For decades the British had a policy of deny, delay and die. They denied the truth about crown force or collusion murders, until the truth was undeniable. They delayed any legal way of getting the truth, until no more delays were possible. They hoped that relatives and witnesses would die, and those remaining would lose interest. Since this strategy did not work in Ballymurphy, they want to shut down any legal means of getting justice.

These proposals have been rejected by the Irish government, northern political parties, Catholic Church and relatives’ groups. Britain does not seem to care. Britain cares about America. We cannot let these victims down!

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, has issued the following statement by National Freedom for All Ireland Chairman Martin Galvin:

“The Ancient Order of Hibernians, America’s oldest and largest Irish American organization, welcomes the announcement by Justice Keegan that she will publish her findings of the Ballymurphy Massacre Inquests on May 11th 2021.

“The Ballymurphy Massacre is a fundamental test of Britain’s ability to give legacy justice. If victims cannot get justice where 11 people, including a Catholic priest and mother of 8 children were killed by British troops, how can we expect justice in any killings or collusion murders where British forces were involved?

“Since August 1971 the Ballymurphy Massacre families maintained that 11 people, including Catholic priest Fr. Hugh Mullan, and mother of 8 children Joan Connolly were murdered over a three day period. While the inquest will make findings about the ten victims who were shot, an eleventh victim, Paddy McCarthy, died of a heart attack caused by being brutalized.

“The British whitewashed these murders by rubberstamping the killings and then smearing the victims. These families have fought to have their loved ones exonerated by an Inquest with eyewitnesses and cross-examination of anyone claiming these killings were justified. They have suffered repeated delays, jibes about “innocent victims” from DUP head Arlene Foster, and the deliberate cutoff of Inquest funding. These courageous families have overcome every roadblock and now at last hope to get the justice and truth they have been so long denied.

“The AOH and stands behind these families in their courageous battle for justice. Our current and past National Presidents, Danny O’Connell, and Judge McKay personally visited Ballymurphy to be briefed by campaign leader John Teggart and other victims’ relatives. A 39 member AOH delegation attended sessions of the Inquest. We have hosted a national American tour by campaign representative Carmel Quinn, and been a part of other American visits by campaign representatives.

“The AOH will be watching the verdict closely and studying what the verdict says about British troops and British justice.

AGREEMENT

“During the conflict there were thousands of killings, many in controversial circumstances. Families, particularly those who saw loved ones murdered by British crown forces, directly or in collusion with loyalists, were stonewalled in their search for justice. Some families have been fighting for truth about murdered loved ones for more than 50 years.

 “In December 2014 the British government headed by David Cameron, and Irish government, led by Enda Kenny entered the Stormont House Agreement, which offered bereaved families hope of legacy justice. The formal agreement, supported by the Stormont political parties, pledged 4 new legacy bodies including a Historical Investigations Unit, which could investigate almost  controversial conflict killings including those by British forces or collusion killings. It also proposed an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval, an Oral History Archive and an Implementation and Reconciliation Group.

 “In January 2020, the British government ,in the “New Decade New Deal” agreement promised to introduce new laws fulfilling the Stormont House Agreement within 100 days.

 BRITAIN RENEGES

“On March 18th, Boris Johnson’s secretary Brandon Lewis announced that instead of keeping its pledges, Britain would have a commission review all cases and then close all cases unless there was new and compelling evidence. There would be no investigations to uncover any evidence and victims’ families fear the plan is an attempt to shut down any chances of getting the truth.  

“The Irish government, Catholic Bishops, Sinn Fein and SDLP and human rights groups are on record condemning Britain’s plan.”  Hibernians and other Irish American groups have been inspired by victims’ families and supported their long campaigns. The Stormont House Agreement was a compromise built upon other legacy negotiations like the Eames-Bradley Report or talks led by Americans Richard Haas and Megan O’Sullivan. Now Britain seems to poised to renege because it cares more about protecting British crown forces from investigations and possible prosecutions, than it does about Irish justice.”

Watch on YouTube Live at: https://youtu.be/NgXYBthu7OQ

Forty years ago, seven Irish Republican political prisoners were in the midst of a 53 day Hunger Strike against British torture and a strategy to brand them as common criminals rather than political prisoners. Britain’s decision at the end of that Hunger Strike, to intensify efforts to break the H-block prisoners rather than compromise, triggered the 1981 Hunger Strike transforming Irish politics and its American dimension. Hibernians will host a special live webinar broadcast ‘Hunger Strike 1980’ on Saturday December 5th featuring key perspectives from inside the Hunger Strike, from the campaign on Irish streets, and from the crucial battle for American public opinion.

One of the 1980 Hunger Strikers Tommy McKearney, will be joined by former H-Block Blanketman now MLA Fra McCann, and political commentator Andree Murphy. America’s oldest and largest Irish organization, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, will host the live webinar broadcast, with Hibernians across the United States joining, led by National Presidents Danny O’Connell and Karen Keane. The event will begin at 4pm in Ireland, 11am in New York, to accommodate American time differences.

Tommy McKearney will discuss, why Republican prisoners resorted to a hunger strike, the events inside as he and other prisoners neared death and how Britain’s misjudgment at the end of the 1980 Hunger Strike led directly to the 1981 Hunger Strike, the deaths of 10 of his fellow Republican prisoners, and a transformation of Irish politics.

Fra McCann will discuss his personal experiences on the protest begun by his close friend Kieran Nugent, and how he and other H-Block prisoners were sent to America in the crucial battle for American support against the massive resources of the British government.

Political commentator and journalist, Andree Murphy, will speak about Britain’s efforts against the campaign, including the assassination of leaders of the H-Block-Armagh Committee, the widespread use of plastic bullets against marchers, and news censorship.

The AOH resolved at its national convention to hold a series commemorative events, and forums, to study, and honor the legacy of the 1981 Hunger Strike Martyrs. The 1981 Hunger Strike is one of the most consequential events in Irish history with added meaning next year, in direct contrast with British celebrations of the 100th anniversary of partition and formation of the Orange State. ‘Hunger Strike 1980’ deals with a crucial chapter in understanding and honoring the legacy of the 1981 Hunger Strike.

‘Hunger Strike 1980’ follows last month’s program on ‘Plastic Justice’ which was not only joined by large numbers of AOH and LAOH members across the United States, but was also watched by viewers in Ireland and Irish American organizations like Irish Northern Aid and the Irish American Unity Conference. We invite and welcome everyone to join Hibernians as we use new technologies to bring important speakers from Ireland to you at this crucial time”.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians was honored to host a virtual release of the “Plastic Justice Report” prepared by Relatives for Justice, Belfast. The report was broadcast on YouTube on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm Local time in Ireland, 11 am Eastern U.S.

Per FFAI Chairman Martin Galvin:

“Plastic Justice“ is a special report on how British state forces used plastic bullets to kill 17 innocent Irish people with impunity, will get a transatlantic launch on Saturday, October 24. In Belfast, joining Relatives for Justice Director Mark Thompson will be relatives of the victims:  Frances Meehan,(sister of Michael Donnelly)and Mark Kelly (brother of Carol Ann Kelly). America’s oldest and largest Irish organization, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, will co-host the launch on a virtual webinar broadcast, with Hibernians across the United States joining live, led by National Presidents Danny O’Connell and Karen Keane. The transatlantic launch will begin at 4 pm in Ireland / 11 am Eastern United States.

Click Here to view the full Plastic Justice Report.

“Plastic Justice” is a key chapter in the story of British repression. This groundbreaking report will highlight Britain’s political and legal strategies to deny truth and real justice to victims’ families, such as treating victims as criminals or rioters to justify murders and intimidate witnesses. Crucial documents and files continue to be systematically withheld. Inquests or legacy investigations that could shed light on these murders are arbitrarily denied. Not one British trooper or Royal Ulster Constabulary member has ever found guilty for any of these 17 killings, even where victims were children. Both Frances Meehan and Mark Kelly will speak about their personal experiences, fighting for justice.

The report and speakers are also expected to highlight how deadly plastic bullets were used to intimidate public demonstrations of political support on issues like the Blanket Protest and Hunger Strikes of 1980 and 1981 or Internment Day protests.

The AOH and LAOH feel privileged to be invited to be a part of this launch. Britain’s broken promises on issues like legacy justice and Brexit have sparked a growing call by Irish America that the United States must be actively engaged if we are to see Britain move on legacy issues, including ‘Plastic Justice.’ There is an increasing demand to hear speakers from Ireland on these issues. Health restrictions may block us from bringing speakers to America, but new technologies mean this transatlantic launch will be joined by Hibernians and Irish Americans across the United States.

I was present during one of the killings covered by this report, that of John Downes on August 12, 1984, and have personally witnessed the continuing cover-up or “plastic justice” meted out to the Downes family; I know this launch will be a moving and important event.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians, National Freedom for All Ireland (FFAI) Chairman Martin Galvin has announced that the Hibernians will be hosting a virtual release of the “Plastic Justice Report” prepared by Relatives for Justice, Belfast. The report will be broadcast on YouTube on Saturday, October 24 at 4 pm Local time in Ireland, 11 am Eastern U.S. Per FFAI Chairman Galvin:

“Plastic Justice“ is a special report on how British state forces used plastic bullets to kill 17 innocent Irish people with impunity, will get a transatlantic launch on Saturday, October 24. In Belfast, joining Relatives for Justice Director Mark Thompson will be relatives of the victims:  Frances Meehan,(sister of Michael Donnelly)and Mark Kelly (brother of Carol Ann Kelly). America’s oldest and largest Irish organization, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, will co-host the launch on a virtual webinar broadcast, with Hibernians across the United States joining live, led by National Presidents Danny O’Connell and Karen Keane. The transatlantic launch will begin at 4 pm in Ireland / 11 am Eastern United States.

View Live at:

www.youtube.com/AncientOrderOfHibernians

Saturday October 24, 2020

4PM Ireland Time – 11AM EDT (New York)

“Plastic Justice” is a key chapter in the story of British repression. This groundbreaking report will highlight Britain’s political and legal strategies to deny truth and real justice to victims’ families, such as treating victims as criminals or rioters to justify murders and intimidate witnesses. Crucial documents and files continue to be systematically withheld. Inquests or legacy investigations that could shed light on these murders are arbitrarily denied. Not one British trooper or Royal Ulster Constabulary member has ever found guilty for any of these 17 killings, even where victims were children. Both Frances Meehan and Mark Kelly will speak about their personal experiences, fighting for justice.

The report and speakers are also expected to highlight how deadly plastic bullets were used to intimidate public demonstrations of political support on issues like the Blanket Protest and Hunger Strikes of 1980 and 1981 or Internment Day protests.

The AOH and LAOH feel privileged to be invited to be a part of this launch. Britain’s broken promises on issues like legacy justice and Brexit have sparked a growing call by Irish America that the United States must be actively engaged if we are to see Britain move on legacy issues, including ‘Plastic Justice.’ There is an increasing demand to hear speakers from Ireland on these issues. Health restrictions may block us from bringing speakers to America, but new technologies mean this transatlantic launch will be joined by Hibernians and Irish Americans across the United States.

I was present during one of the killings covered by this report, that of John Downes on August 12, 1984, and have personally witnessed the continuing cover-up or “plastic justice” meted out to the Downes family; I know this launch will be a moving and important event.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE ON YOUTUBE

Freedom for all Ireland (FFAI) grants totaling almost $100,000 were handed out last month to seventeen applicants by the American Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH.) Leading figures from each grant recipient, then joined in a zoom webinar conference on September 19th, telling Hibernians from across the United States, about each group’s work and how much they count on American financial help. The grant checks were personally delivered in Belfast, Derry, Tyrone and Down by recently deported AOH member Malachy McAllister.

Each year the AOH-LAOH make a Christmas Appeal to award grants to groups working for complete and absolute independence, peace and unity for all Ireland. The categories include (a)supporting former Republican political prisoners, (b) truth and justice groups, (c) cross-community initiatives,(d) Irish culture, heritage and language,(e) preserving Irish Republican history, and (f) cross border programs. Groups applying for donations from the FFAI Christmas Appeal, must submit applications that include a question on how they promote freedom for all Ireland.

This year grants were awarded to Relatives for Justice, Belfast National Graves, Pat Finucane Centre, Museum of Free Derry, Passionate Peace Centre-Holy Cross Ardoyne, EALU center for

Tyrone Republican ex-political prisoners, Green Cross, Tyrone National Graves, Ballymurphy Massacre Families, Greater New Lodge Commemoration Committee, Conway Mill Trust, Cairde Strabane, St. Patrick Centre, Duchas Oiriall-South Armagh, Bridges beyond Boxing, Down Patriot Graves, Omagh Basketball, Omagh Choir, and the Witness Project.

HISTORY MAKING FIRST

Previous years’ presentations were only seen by Hibernian officers and members able to travel to Ireland. In what AOH National President Danny O’Connell termed a “history making first” Hibernians across America watched speakers representing 17 grant recipients explain their work and why American help is needed. About half of the speakers assembled at the Felon’s Club in Belfast, while others spoke from locations around the six counties.

Danny O’Connell opened the program, noting the long commitment of the AOH-LAOH to this work followed by LAOH President Karen Keane who said “promoting freedom for all Ireland is one of the core reasons why the AOH and LAOH exist”. Groups were introduced in turn by the respective Presidents and FFAI Chairs Martin Galvin and Dolores Desch.

Mark Thompson, on behalf of Relatives for Justice said:
“I have been on tours for the AOH-LAOH and seen the work and dedication behind these donations. The FFAI grants help fund RfJ reports into collusion and British killings and bring legacy justice and truth to families who have been fighting for decades. The donations come alongside the vital political and solidarity work which you do.”

Brendan Bik McFarlane speaking for Belfast National Graves called AOH-LAOH help “absolutely crucial to the work of honoring the graves, legacy and memory of Ireland’s patriot dead.”

John Kelly of the Bloody Sunday Families and Museum for Free Derry spoke of how badly the museum was hurt by being unable to open for visitors this year because of Covid restrictions, and how welcome American help is at this time saying “America was always with the Bloody Sunday families and without you we would not be where we are today”.

Frankie Quinn of EALU, the Republican ex-prisoners center in East Tyrone, described the special needs of former pows, in Tyrone and surrounding counties and the special programs provided for them.

Brian McKee, speaking for Fr. Gary Donegan and the Passionate Centre at Holy Cross Ardoyne, described their work healing the legacy of conflict. John Teggart of the Ballymurphy Massacre Families, spoke of the approaching inquest verdict into the massacre, and plans to mark the 50th anniversary with a special memorial. Sinead Walsh of Green Cross, explained the special help the group provides to the families who lost loved ones in the war and acknowledged the work of Bobby Storey. Sean Murray of the Witness Project discussed the impact of his film “UNQUIET GRAVES” broadcast on RTE television, and the need to allow people to tell their own stories about victimization under British rule.

Other representatives were Brian Cawley of Tyrone National Graves, Fiona Johnston of Down Patriot Graves, Daryl Simpson of the Omagh Choir, Dr.Tim Campbell of the St. Patrick Centre, Jarlath McNulty of Cairdre Strabane, Pearse McGeough of Duchas Oriall, John O’Hagan of Greater New Lodge, Eamon Daly of Omagh Thunder Basketball and Joe Lowe of Bridges Beyond Boxing.

MALACHY MCALLISTER

Malachy McAllister, who delivered the checks, noted that seeing the work done by these groups first hand gave him a “deeper appreciation of the work done by these groups and importance of continued American help”. LAOH FFAI Chair Dolores Desch, thanked everyone noting that FFAI was becoming increasingly important to members of the LAOH and ”events like this were another step in building an even greater interest and desire to help”. AOH Vice-President Sean Pender said he took “great pride in what the AOH-LAOH did while he served as FFAI Chair and was proud of the FFAI work we continue to accomplish together.”

AOH Freedom for All Ireland Chair Martin Galvin concluded by saying to the Irish grant recipients:

   “These contributions are made because Americans are inspired by you and your work for freedom for all Ireland. The AOH-LAOH are with you. We want to support you, and we take pride and satisfaction in being a small part of your tremendous efforts.”

  “We know that the coming year will present unprecedented problems for us in funding grants and in our political work for you, but our members are determined not to let you down.”