Posted By: April 04, 2024

Fr. McManus and Raymond McCord, Sr. on the death of former Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA).

CAPITOL HILL. Thursday, April 4, 2024—The death of Congressman Delahunt has particular significance for Fr. Sean McManus –President of the Capitol Hill-based Irish National Caucus and Chief Judge of the World Peace Prize—and Raymond McCord, Sr. famed and intrepid  Belfast Protestant victims’ campaigner.

Mr. McCord gave the Irish National Caucus this quote: “I am very sorry to hear of the death of Bill Delahunt and express my deepest sympathy to his family circle. When I met Bill in his office along with my great friend and supporter Father Sean McManus, it was to seek his support to hold a Congressional Hearing into the murder of my son Raymond Jr. Bill listened intently and in a short space of time just said, ‘Your son’s case is having a Congressional Hearing.’

A short, simple statement to me. A gentleman who showed nothing but respect and honesty to me. I was a stranger to him, yet he treated me as if he had known me for years. At the Congressional hearing thanks to Bill, I received magnificent support for my son’s case. Support that I should have been getting in Belfast. I can not thank Bill enough and on behalf of my family I would add that he will always be in our hearts and prayers. As we say in Belfast when a stranger does something really special for you, “Bill was one of ours,” thank you sir, a gentleman.”

Fr. McManus said: “God rest the noble soul of Congressman Delahunt. Irish-Americans—and all who love justice—owe him a huge debt of gratitude. He took on a case much feared by the British Embassy and British Government. I thought, for the historical record, it would be best for me—instead of giving recollections—to give ‘contemporaneous notes,’ as published in my Memoirs: My American Struggle for Justice in Northern Ireland (2023 U.S.A. RE-PRINT).

This is copy of the letter I wrote to Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA) after he gave us the solemn promise to hold a Congressional Hearing into British Government collusion and cover-up of the brutal 1997 assassination of Raymond McCord, Jr.

The Honorable Bill Delahunt.

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

May 7, 2009

Dear Bill,

Thank you for meeting Raymond Mc Cord and me in your

office today, Thursday, May 7, 2009.

You have no idea how much your graciousness and empathy meant to Raymond.

You brought peace and consolation to his suffering, noble Protestant soul. He is grateful beyond measure.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I shall always be grateful for your goodness and kindness.

Sincerely,

Fr. Sean Mc Manus

President.

Congressman Delahunt kept his promise with grace and efficiency on October 22, 2009.

The Irish National Caucus had brought Raymond, Sr. to Washington in May 2009, so that he could tell his story to the United States Congress. I brought him to see many Members of Congress, all signed-up Congressional Friends of the Irish National Caucus. My Memoirs explains:

“Then I brought him along to meet the Chairman of the House  Human Rights Subcommittee, Congressman Bill Delahunt (D-MA).

I began by saying: “Bill, for over thirty years I have been telling the Congress about how the British government covered up the murder of Catholics in Northern Ireland. But today I bring you a staunch Protestant from Belfast to tell you how the British government has covered up the murder of his son.” I then sat back and let Raymond do the talking. Within fifteen minutes, Congressman Delahunt promised a Hearing.

Raymond could not believe it. That hardy boy—considered to have been one of the toughest street fighters in Belfast for the past forty years—was deeply moved by Delahunt’s compassion and solidarity.

… On October 22, 2009, he [Raymond] had his Congressional hearing before the House Human Rights Subcommittee—and he gave the fight of his life. There was a stunned, somber atmosphere as he recounted his son’s murder, the collusion, and the cover-up. And I knew that from then on, I would never have any difficulty convincing the Congress that the British can do bad things in Ireland. “ Chapter 18. ‘A Protestant  Boy’ on Capitol Hill.’ (pages 327-322).

END.