MC CORD CALLS ON IRISH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO THE EUROPEAN COURT
Posted By: August 01, 2023
Raymond McCord and Fr. McManus. 2009
“Intrepid Belfast Protestant escalates his campaign against the shameful British Legacy Bill.”—Fr. Sean McManus
MC CORD CALLS ON IRISH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO THE EUROPEAN COURT
Tuesday, August 1, 2023. For immediate release.
“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Irish government can become the friends and saviors of all victims of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, Irish Republic, and England. To do so, they must take the British government Legacy Bill to the European Court in Strasbourg with an inter-state case against the British government. The Irish government must legally and morally support all victims, irrespective of their religion, politics, or color.
I know, from speaking to Dublin politicians, that there is plenty of support for the Irish government to begin legal proceedings against the British government’s shameful Legacy Bill. What is lacking is courage and political will. The Irish government is giving the impression it fears the idea of challenging the British government, which will permanently deny victims truth and justice, and remove all their human rights regarding the justice system.
Politicians from both communities have used victims over the years for their own agenda. There are some who criticize the Irish government for adopting a pro-republican anti-British agenda while remaining silent on murders carried out by the British state’s security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. Hypocrisy it’s called.
Furthermore, there are some politicians who criticize only the British state’s involvement in murders and anything British, while ignoring republican murders.
All murders must be investigated. To stop this Legacy Bill, it’s essential the Irish government gets off the fence and commits all its legal options to fully support all victims.
This is the greatest opportunity in the history of Ireland for an Irish government to show they do not pander to the British government or fear it.
It doesn’t matter if you are Unionist or Nationalist, the opportunity and process is here for the Irish government to take strong, positive action through the European court —or be seen as failing in their commitments to victims. It’s a decision that is relatively easy to make because it means either justice for victims or no human rights for victims.
Action—not just talking— by the Irish government will show how much it really cares for the people on this island.
Every political party on the island of Ireland and the UK should also support the Irish government in taking this case to Europe. Fear or courage, Mr. Varadkar? Do you have that courage? Are you prepared to walk with the victims into the court in Europe, or quit and fail them? ”
Raymond McCord on behalf of the Truth and Justice Movement
