The U.S. State Department recently hosted a discussion of issues of concern to Irish America and three of the groups in attendance responded with an urgent appeal for Secretary of State Clinton to intervene in a range of key issues including the boston College archives case..
"We urge madame secretary to review the compelling documentation recently submitted to the Helsinki Commission by the Committee on the Administration of Justice, Relatives for Justice, and the Pat Finucane Center and ask if by corrupting the work of the Historical Enquiries Team and the Police Ombudsman, the Police Service of Northern Ireland is not violating both the letter and spirit of the Belfast Agreement," said the national president of the Irish American Unity Conference, Thomas Burke Jr.
Seamus Boyle, national president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, urged the State Department "not to use an old crutch" that they cannot interfere in the internal affairs of another country.
"After decades of that stance, and Britain's endless interference in Ireland, including the infamous Dublin-Monaghan bombing, President Clinton tore out that page from the diplomatic playbook. All we seek is for the U.S. to fulfill its own responsibilities under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and not rubber stamp a scurrilous request such as this," said Boyle in reference to the BC case.
"Prime Minister Cameron" stated Robert Dunne, president of the Brehon Law Society, "recently admitted that the same security force making this treaty request for Boston College records colluded in the killing of lawyer and human rights advocate, Patrick Finucane."
"Surely, if the U.S. can give voice to the human rights advocacy of (Chinese dissident) Chen Guangeheng, we can seek accountability and sanction of those who butchered Pat Finucane in front of his family," Dunne said.
