Washington, D.C., October 10, 1997 -- It was not a good day
for the RUC on Capitol Hill yesterday.
The force, especially its Head, Ronnie Flanagan, was subjected to
fierce criticism.
The Chairman of the House Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), lambasted
Chief Flanagan as hostile, insensitive, and as "being in
denial", as he recounted his meeting with Flanagan in Belfast last
August, Congressman Smith expressed complete lack of confidence in
Flanagan's ability or desire to lead a fair-minded, just police force.
Appearing before the Hearing, which lasted from 1 P.M. to 3:45
P.M., were five witnesses: (1) Julia Hall, Northern Ireland Researcher
for Human Rights Watch; (2) Jane Winter, Director of British Irish
Rights Watch; (3) Martin O'Brien, Director of the Committee on the
Administration of Justice; (4) Halya Gowan, Northern Ireland Researcher
for Amnesty International; (5) Elisa Massimino, Director of the
Washington office of the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights.
One case that received prominent attention was that of Sean
Kelly, falsely imprisoned as part of the Casement Accused.
Congressman Smith recounted how when he raised the case of Kelly
with Chief Flanagan -- who had asserted that he was very familiar with
all such cases -- Flanagan replied, "Who is Sean Kelly?"
The Hearing which was held to investigate how human rights could
be a central part of the peace process, heard unanimous testimony of the
importance of human rights if the peace process were to succeed.
