Orde on Lawyers

It was disturbing to read Hugh Orde’s recent comment regarding inquiries into police abuses in the north of Ireland.

“I think dealing with the past in the current way is a huge money-sucking venture because it deals with these people called lawyers,” he said.

This is not the first time I have heard Mr. Orde speak in this manner. The other time was in person, and his tone when mentioning lawyers was one of disdain.

It is shameful for a high-ranking official involved in a system of justice to speak of other essential participants in the system in such a manner. (Just recently, a deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Defense was compelled to apologize for displaying a similar contempt for lawyers representing the detainees being held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay.)

It is clear to me that Mr. Orde is not fond of lawyers, and particularly not those involved in inquiries regarding the conduct of the police – especially his police.

Who does Mr. Orde believe should conduct the inquires? The police?

Mr. Orde must be kidding. He knows all to well the history of the police in the north of Ireland, the collusion, the cover-ups and the outright bigoted sectarian nature of the force. Moreover, history is replete with contemplation over “who shall guard the guards?” The answer is not the police.

State sponsored killings are nothing to make light of, and deriding the first serious efforts and those carrying them out to get to the bottom of them is beneath the dignity of a serious police official.

The attitude that orchestrated the murder and cover-up of lawyer Pat Finucane developed from resentment that he as a lawyer was doing his best to prevent injustice and unearth police corruption. And it is this attitude that denies his family the real inquiry they were promised.

As a lawyer myself, I am well aware that there are good ones and bad ones. I must say, however, that I have no doubt our integrity as a group is considerably above that of the RUC/Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

Perhaps the reason the NYPD is as professional as it is, is because it is led by a lawyer who respects all facets of the justice system.

With what they bring to the process, I have no doubt lawyers are far more willing and able to get to the bottom of the police abuses in the north than are Mr. Orde and his PSNI.

Lawrence Downes
President, Friends of Sinn Fein
New York, New York

SAS and IRA

What a ridiculous letter, “Real Anti-Americanism,” from Father Sean McManus in the January 3-9 issue.

So Gerry Fitt said something which is probably not a perfect comparison, and McManus goes off on a rant about the SAS. Maybe Fitt should have compared the SAS to the IRA, but wait, hang on, not a good idea as the IRA assassinated more innocent Catholics than the SAS did — Jean McConville,, Seamus Wright, Kevin McKee, Columba McVeigh, Brendan Megaw, Danny McIlhone, John McIlroy, Gerard Evans, Charlie Armstrong, Gareth O’Connor, Robert McCartney.

How Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin has the nerve to say the murder of McConville was not a crime is beyond me. She was the mother of 10, and the IRA tries to cover up the despicable crime by saying she was a spy with a secret radio transmitter. IRA men are watching too many spy movies. As if a mother of 10 has time for playing Mata Hari.

How is what Gerry Fitt said anti-American?

Patrick Eamonn O’Reilly
Lindenhurst, New York

Say No to Giuliani

I am saddened at the remote possibility of Rudolph Giuliani having the support of Irish America. Have we forgotten that it was this ruthless character who incarcerated Joe Doherty for nine long years?

That’s right, nine Christmases in solitary confinement, and the crime committed was fighting to win freedom for himself and his family in his native Northern Ireland. The injustices Mr. Giuliani brought upon Joe Doherty and his family denies him the support of the Irish people in America.

I am outraged with the mean spirited Giuliani. Thank God for those decent people who worked very hard for the Good Friday Agreement by which Mr. Doherty won his freedom, some of whom I wish to name — President Bill Clinton, Congressmen Peter King, and Joe Crowley, Bruce Morrison, Niall O’Dowd, Brian O’Dwyer and the late Frank Durkan among many others.

Mr. Giuliani’s only claim to fame is September 11, 2001 when he was mayor of New York City. Actually, in reality, all he did on that tragic day was walk around with his bodyguards wearing a mask over his face while telling people to remain calm. What other than that would we expect the mayor to do on such a terrible day in all our lives?

And now, more than five years later, he continues to capitalize on the same tragedy for political and financial gain, and that is as mean spirited as any person can get. He is also anti-labor and failed to bring all ethnic groups together while he was mayor of New York City. Mr. Giuliani even looks and acts mean, and is someone we certainly don’t need as commander-in-chief of this great country.

We need somebody with class and dignity, a president we can all be proud of. Again, remember Joe Doherty and respect the people who lost their lives on September 11.

P.J. Harvey
New Hyde Park, New York

English Thieves

It was truly amazing to read Peadar O’Fiach’s letter justifying England’s invasion, conquest and occupation of Ireland. But then again, I remember the first one to betray Ireland was an Irishman, MacMurrough King of Leinster, who lost his throne, went to England and brought the Anglo-Norman Strongbow, who then kicked out the traitor MacMurrough and took the throne. So is the fate of a traitor.

O’Fiach also stated that he finds it hard to believe that the people who gave the world the Magna Carta just wanted the Irish to come to their way of life. Weren’t the English the ones who brought the slave trade to America? Not to mention selling the Irish as slaves to the American colonies and the West Indies.

The English also brought war to Africa, the opium trade to China, and don’t forget the wonderful Penal Laws that kept the Irish as serfs in their own country for a couple of hundred years. And not to forget that the English upper class stole the Irish lands, and considered the Irish sub-human. And, of course, the north of Ireland land which was stolen at the point of a gun.

Mr. O’Fiach says the English loved the Irish, Scots and Welsh. Sure they did – after they stole their land and culture.

The English crown represents one of the greatest packs of thieves and murderers in world history!

Tom McTigue
Bronx, New York

Read About the Facts

When I read Peadar O’Fiach’s letter “Catholic Church and Famine” in the January 17-23 issue I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Peadar, you obviously didn’t go to school in Ireland or you would be better informed on Irish history. I suggest you read The Story of the Irish Race by Seamus McManus, particularly the chapter on the Penal Laws —page 454. Another good read is The Great Hunger by Cecil Woodham-Smith (an English woman).

To suggest that the Catholic Church imposed some indoctrination on the Irish people is ludicrous. Ireland has always been Catholic and didn’t follow the English trend started by HenryVIII when he wanted to get rid of his wife and marry a new one.

As for the English feeling that the Irish, Scottish and Welsh are one family, that only works if ALL parties want to be one big happy family.

Incidentally, Peadar, why are you using the Irish version of your name instead of the English version, Peter? You must have divided loyalties!

Why do I have the nagging feeling that this letter is just meant to get outraged reaction from Irish Voice readers?

Mae Doyle Sullivan
Media, Pennsylvania