CAPITOL HILL. Monday, May
31, 2010 --- The recent threat against
Protestant victim-campaigner, Belfast-man
Raymond Mc Cord Sr., is causing the Capitol
Hill-based Irish National Caucus deep concern.
The Northern Ireland police contacted Mr. Mc
Cord on Saturday to inform him there was yet
another threat against his life by Loyalist
paramilitaries.
In 1997, Mc Cord’s son, Raymond Jr. (22) was
savagely beaten to death near Belfast. Since
then Raymond Sr. has waged a lonely battle for
justice. His quest led to a 2007 Report by then
Police Ombudsman, Nuala O’ Loan, which revealed
that the murder was directed and committed by a
Loyalist gang controlled by British agents and
police informers. As a consequence, there was a
massive cover up, and still no one has been
charged with the murder.
In 2009, the Irish National Caucus brought
Raymond Mc Cord Sr. to Washington to raise the
case and to successfully lobby for a
Congressional Hearing.
On October 22, House Committee on Foreign
Affairs, Subcommittee on International
Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight held a
Hearing.
Raymond Sr. gave graphic testimony that shocked
and moved the Congress.
Reacting to the latest development, the
president of the Irish National Caucus , Fr.
Sean Mc Manus, said: “ This is deeply
disturbing. I had hoped Raymond was in less
danger than before. I have always maintained
that justice for young Mc Cord is the acid test
for the “ new beginning “ we were promised to
policing in Northern Ireland. Yet, after all
these years, and a mountain of evidence , no one
has been charged with the murder. And despite
the fact that everyone knows who is responsible
for the threats against Raymond Sr., the threats
continue. What does that say about creditability
of the police?
Fr. Mc Manus concluded by stressing he would be
raising the issue with key Members of Congress.
END
Fr. Sean Mc Manus
President
Irish National Caucus
Capitol Hill
PO BOX 15128
Washington, DC 20003-0849
Tel. 202-544-0568 202-544-0568
Fax 202-488-7537
sean@irishnationalcaucus.org
