[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 84 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 84

  Condemning violence and criminality by the Irish Republican Army in 
                           Northern Ireland.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 17, 2005

   Mr. Kennedy (for himself, Mr. McCain, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
 Biden, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Gregg) submitted 
      the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Condemning violence and criminality by the Irish Republican Army in 
                           Northern Ireland.

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 
        fiancee, 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 fiancee 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.
                                 <all>