McAllisters' Deportation is NO 'Peace Dividend'

international | rights, freedoms and repression | press release Wednesday September 19, 2007 15:24 by Jay Dooling - Irish American Unity Conference (IAUC) rdooling at swbell dot net

For many years, the ‘peace dividend’ was held out as an incentive to engage in the process which ultimately resulted in the current peace in Ireland.

The United States Government, in pursuing the McAllister family's deportation, is undermining the concept of the peace dividend, and is sending out a message that is driven by a desire for retribution that is dangerously irrational and anachronistic.

IAUC: McAllisters' Deportation is No 'Peace Dividend'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jay Dooling (rdooling@swbell.net)

September 19, 2007 8:59 AM (Washington, DC):
As Malachy McAllister and his family face imminent
deportation from the United States, Matt Morrison,
Political Action Chair of the Irish American Unity
Conference (IAUC), issued this statement:

“As a former Irish Republican prisoner and deportee, I
abhor the planned deportation of the McAllister family by
the United States Government. It was not many years ago
that I and my family, along with a number of my comrades
and their families, were in a similar predicament.

“For many years, the ‘peace dividend’ was held out as an
incentive to engage in the process which ultimately
resulted in the current peace in Ireland. The United
States Government, in pursuing the McAllister family's
deportation, is undermining the concept of the peace
dividend, and is sending out a message that is driven by a
desire for retribution that is dangerously irrational and
anachronistic.

“The United States Government has placed itself at odds
with the people of Ireland who are working hard to achieve
a lasting peace based on the twin foundations of democracy
and equality. The United States Government is undermining
the new power sharing assembly and is thwarting the efforts
of the Irish and British Governments and the numerous
political parties who have engaged in peace building
efforts.”

The McAllisters are a Catholic family from Northern
Ireland. They have been seeking political asylum in the
United States since 1996. On October 2, 1988, two masked
loyalist gunmen smashed the front window of the
McAllister’s home and fired 26 shots into the house
narrowly missing three of their children and their
grandmother.

The Royal Ulster Constabulary notified them that Malachy's
security information was found in a loyalist 'safe house'
along with the guns used in the shooting.

Other members of the McAllister's family had also been
targeted. Theresa Clinton, a relative, was murdered when
loyalists fired shots into her living room. Bernadette's
family members had been warned by the RUC to take security
precautions because, like Malachy, their personal details
were in the hands of paramilitary organizations.

As recently as 2005, a loyalist terror group threatened the
McAllisters, telling the Irish Echo newspaper stating that,
“we won't miss next time".

Matt Morrison concluded by saying:

“You cannot say that you are for peace in Ireland and yet
remain silent or inactive in the face of the imminent
McAllister deportation.”

END
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Contact: Jay Dooling (rdooling@swbell.net)

Irish American Unity Conference
National Office
611 Pennsylvania Ave, SE #4150
Washington, D.C. 20003
800-947-4282

http://www.irishamericanunityconference.org/

National Press Officer: Jay Dooling
Email: rdooling@swbell.net

"Working for Justice and Peace in a Re-united Ireland”
The IRISH AMERICAN UNITY CONFERENCE is a nationwide,
nonpartisan, nonsectarian, chapter-based human rights
organization working for justice and peace in Ireland. We
are a wholly American 501(c)(4) organization that advocates
the end of British colonial occupation and the peaceful
reunification of Ireland . We endeavor to achieve these
goals by working through the American democratic process.
Individually, our members represent every occupational and
educational stratum in the United States .