Irish-Americans Hopeful About April 9th Deadline

Posted By: March 29, 2013

Washington, D.C., March 31, 1998 — Now that Senator George Mitchell, Northern Ireland Talks Chairman, has set April 9, 1998, as the deadline for a settlement Irish-Americans are hopeful it can be reached.

“Despite the obvious difficulties, I am hopeful an honorable settlement can be achieved,” said Fr. Sean McManus, President of the Irish National Caucus, the Capitol Hill-based Irish lobby. “Obviously nobody is going to get 100% of what he wants — not Gerry Adams and not David Trimble.”

“Irish-Americans have a special duty and obligation to make it clear that they have absolutely no sympathy for the INLA and the Continuity IRA. Those two groups — or any group violently opposed to the peace-process — must not be given any encouragement or support.”

“Thirty years ago people had no idea how long or how terrible the Troubles would be. But now we know exactly how bad things will be if we descend back to the abyss of violence. We must never let that happen,” he concluded.