VICTIMS’ FURY
Posted By: September 26, 2022
IRISH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
DISTRIBUTED TO CONGRESS BY IRISH NATIONAL CAUCUS
“PREEMINENT VICTIMS’ CAMPAIGNER —BELFAST PROTESTANT—RAYMOND MC CORD, SR. TO MAKE ‘NEW REVELATIONS ON SON’S MURDER’ ACCORDING TO THE SUN NEWSPAPER
—FR. SEAN MC MANUS
VICTIMS’ FURY
Father of man brutally murdered by loyalist drugs gang to reveal ‘new revelations’ on son’s murder
THE campaigning dad of a young man murdered by a loyalist drugs gang will make new revelations about his killing at Leinster House this week.
https://www.thesun.ie/news/9465185/father-man-murdered-loyalist-drugs-gang-revelations-murder/
Stephen Breen. The Sun. London. Monday, September 26, 2022
Details surrounding the barbaric killing of Raymond McCord Jnr, 22, by a UVF mob in 1997 – who were all informers – will be revealed on Wednesday when a new film is shown in Dublin.
The project – featuring the powerful stories of eight victims who lost loved ones through republican, loyalist and British Army violence during the Troubles – has been produced in opposition to the British Government’s controversial legacy bill.
The bill aims to offer an amnesty to anyone who was involved in violent incidents before 1998 in return for their cooperation on cases.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Sun ahead of this week’s showing, Mr McCord’s dad Raymond has urged Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar to view the film.
Mr McCord said: “When the film is shown in Dublin next week those in attendance will get to hear new revelations about my son’s murder.
“I sincerely hope that the Taoiseach and other senior politicians will attend so they can see first hand the opposition to the British Government’s decision to reward murderers and punish victims.
“These Legacy proposals are not to help victims families – they wont help us move on, they wont help to get justice, they wont mend broken hearts, they wont deliver the truth, they will hide the truth, they will hide the British State’s involvement with terrorist organisations and murders carried out by their agents.
“If the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is serious about helping victims he should come to Dublin or send a representative.
“The stories will prove there is no such thing as justice when the hand of the British State is complicit in thousands of murders.
“We with the support of many other victims and political parties including the Irish government intend to stop these immoral proposals that remove truth and justice by a corrupt government who oppose truth and justice for victims.”
The event is being hosted by Fine Gael TD Emer Currie, whose motion in the Seanad last year to oppose the British Government’s proposals was unanimously supported.
She added: “Wednesday is going to be a hugely significant day. The victims have met Minister Simon Coveney and the Taoiseach – both know exactly what’s at stake with this bill and support the victims.
“On Wednesday, they’ll get the chance to bring their campaign to all Oireachtas members, who we also need to support them.
HEARTBREAK FOR VICTIMS & FAMILY
“We have to do everything in our power – Belfast, Dublin, London and beyond to stop this legislation.
“This film is another example of how heartbreakingly far victims and families have to go for what is a human right – truth and justice.”
Those featuring in the programme include Raymond McCord’s dad, also called Raymond, Kate Nash, whose brother William was one of thirteen innocent people killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972, Julie Hambleton, whose sister Maxine was one of twenty one people killed by the IRA in the Birmingham pub bombings and Philip Campbell, whose dad Joe was a Catholic RUC officer murdered by the UVF in 1997.
Others who will feature in the hour-and-a-half long documentary – which will also be shown in Washington – also include Billy McManus, whose dad William was murdered in the Ormeau Road bookmakers massacre by UFF terrorists in 1992, John Teggart, whose dad Daniel was killed during the Ballymurphy massacre in 1971 and Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the 1998 Omagh bomb outrage.
Cathy McIlvenny, whose sister was raped and murdered by the UDA in Belfast, will also share her story.
