An AOH webinar focusing on murder and collusion in South Belfast is set for this Saturday, February 19 with the list of participants now finalized.
Said a release from the Hibernians: "A week of major Congressional focus on new British amnesty proposals will end with a special live appeal by Siobhan Clinton, Bosco Kennedy and Mark Sykes, three family representatives of eleven Operation Achille south Belfast murder victims, and updates on House Resolution 888 and this week’s Lantos Commission hearing.
"Confirmed speakers also include Irish Senator Niall Blaney of Fianna Fail and John Finucane MP of Sinn Fein. The live webinar broadcast, hosted by The Ancient Order of Hibernians, will take place on Saturday, According to the release, the Operation Achille findings of RUC "collusive behavior" made by Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson, were the latest in a series of investigations and legal proceedings upholding charges of British state force involvement in murders.
The 344-page report investigated RUC misconduct in relation to 11 murders and an attempted murder carried out in south Belfast between 1990 and 1998.The new British proposals would take away legal paths to justice including Ombudsman reports, criminal investigations, civil actions, or inquests.
"Once again members of Irish American organizations including the LAOH, Brehons, IAUC and Irish Northern Aid, have been invited to join."
The speakers are Bosco Kennedy, a brother, of 15-year-old James Kennedy shot dead in the 1992 Sean Graham’s bookie shop massacre along with Christy Doherty, Jack Duffin, Peter Magee and Willie McManus.
Siobhan Clinton’s mother Theresa Clinton was shot dead in their home in 1994.
Mark Sykes, survived the Sean Graham’s massacre despite seven bullet wounds, and has been a leading figure in the decade’s long fight for justice by these families
John Finucane MP of Sinn Fein and Irish Senator Niall Blaney of Fianna Fail will discuss their respective parties’ opposition to the British amnesty plan that would cut off all legal paths to justice including Ombudsman reports.
The release stated that the webinar will include an update on the progress of Congressman William Keating’s House Resolution 888 which “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."
The congressman initiated this resolution working with the Plymouth Massachusetts Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, Division #9.
The Lantos Commission, co-chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and James McGovern (D-MA) will be holding a special hearing on this issue this and the broadcast will include an analysis.
The Ancient Order of Hibernians National Freedom for All Ireland Chairman Martin Galvin stated: “Within the past month Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson has issued two damning reports which indicate the Royal Ulster Constabulary’s complicity in murders was part of a deliberate policy carried out across the six counties. There have been several civil actions where the British government paid out large sums to victims’ families killed in collusion murders.
“British Secretary Brandon Lewis was in Washington last week trying to justify his proposal to end Ombudsman investigations, criminal cases, Historical Investigations, Inquests, or civil suits, or anything else which could give the truth in hundreds of crown force or collusion killings.
“The families of those victims, who have spent decades fighting for justice, are appealing for American help to stop Britain’s planned amnesty whitewash. “
Zoom registration for the webinar is at https://aoh.com/WebinarRegistration or https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9irDTQNeQdWHBK1tE8xDHQ. Watch on YouTube: https://aoh.com/Live or https://youtu.be/D28sRcRownY
