SRES84sMAR18

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending March 18, 2005

Senate Resolution 84 condemning the violence and criminality by the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland.

BRIEF

The Resolution accuses the IRA of murdering Irishman Robert McCartney and covering up the crime.

McCartney's sisters demanded justice and the IRA expelled 7 political Sinn Fein members from its ranks.

Sinn Fein now calls for justice but not in a constructive way, the Resolution says.

Sinn Fein should encourage witnesses to cooperate wit the North Ireland Police and the US should help bring the killers to justice.

Sponsor: Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent .(March 17, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

S. Res. 84

Whereas on January 30, 2005, a Catholic citizen of Belfast, Northern Ireland, Robert McCartney, was brutally murdered by members of the Irish Republican Army, who attempted to cover-up the crime and ordered all witnesses to be silent about the involvement of Irish Republican Army members;

Whereas the sisters of Robert McCartney, Catherine McCartney, Paula Arnold, Gemma McMacken, Claire McCartney, and Donna Mary McCartney, and his fiancée, Bridgeen Karen Hagans, refused to accept the code of silence and have bravely challenged the Irish Republican Army by demanding justice for the murder of Robert McCartney;

Whereas when outcry over the murder increased, the Irish Republican Army expelled 3 members, and 7 members of Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, were suspended from the party;

Whereas the leadership of Sinn Fein has called for justice, but has not called on those responsible for the murder or any of those who witnessed the murder to cooperate directly with the Police Service of Northern Ireland;

Whereas on March 8, 2005, the Irish Republican Army issued an outrageous statement in which it said it ``was willing to shoot the killers of Robert McCartney''; and

Whereas peace and violence cannot coexist in Northern Ireland: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That--

(1) the Senate joins the people of the United States in deploring and condemning violence and criminality by the Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland; and

(2) it is the sense of the Senate that--

(A) the sisters and fiancée of Robert McCartney deserve the full support of the United States in their pursuit of justice;

(B) the leadership of Sinn Fein should insist that those responsible for the murder and witnesses to the murder cooperate directly with the Police Service of Northern Ireland and be protected fully from any retaliation by the Irish Republican Army; and

(C) the Government of the United States should offer all appropriate assistance to law enforcement authorities in Northern Ireland to see that the murderers of Robert McCartney are brought to justice.

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