McCord-Fr.McManus brief Helsinki Commission
Posted By: February 18, 2020
Fr. Sean McManus, Paul Massaro (Helsinki Commission), and Raymond McCord
CAPITOL HILL. Monday, February 17, 2020— On Wednesday, February 12 the McCord-Fr. McManus justice-mission was brought to the U.S. Helsinki Commission (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe), which is “charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 57 countries.”
The Irish National Caucus has a long history of briefing the Commission, whose previous Chairman is Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), who has over the years held seventeen Congressional Hearings on human rights in Northern Ireland.
The current Chairman is Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), who became a Congressional Friend of the Irish National Caucus in in May 2019, to the delight of the Irish in Florida.
Mr.Raymond McCord, Sr., Barbara Flaherty, and Fr. McManus briefed Mr. Paul Massaro, who “… serves as the policy advisor responsible for OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) ‘second dimension’ issues, or economic and environmental policy. His portfolio includes topics such as anti-corruption, sanctions, finance, trade, Arctic issues, and energy security.”
Raymond McCord, Sr., is a Protestant/Unionist from Belfast, whose son, Raymond, Jr., was brutally beaten to death in 1997 by Protestant paramilitaries. Because some of those involved in the murder were police informers and British agents, the British government has covered up the murder.
Mr. McCord, Sr. spent one week on Capitol Hill (as a guest of the Irish National Caucus) continuing his relentless and heroic campaign of justice for his son. He returned to Belfast encouraged, uplifted and inspired by his Washington visit in which he made a profound impact.
