[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 92 (Monday, July 13, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S8050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECENT TRAGEDY IN NORTHERN IRELAND

  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, as all of our colleagues and most of America 
know, tragedy has struck once again in Northern Ireland with the 
untimely deaths of three young Catholic boys--Richard, Mark, and Jason 
Quinn. The Quinn brothers were burned to death early Sunday morning 
after their home was firebombed by Protestant extremists. I join with 
Prime Ministers Blair and Ahern, President Clinton and others in 
condemning this terrorist act. I also want to extend, and I am sure I 
am joined in this by all our colleagues, my deepest condolences to the 
Quinn family.
  The murder of three innocent children is such a cowardly act that it 
is incomprehensible. Sadly though for those of us who watched the week-
long escalation of violence, after members of the Orange Order were 
prevented from going forward with a controversial parade through the 
Catholic neighborhoods, the outcome was predictable. Ironically, the 
Quinn family had absolutely nothing to do with the standoff between 
members of the Protestant Orange Order and the Catholic neighborhood of 
Garvaghy Road over whether a controversial parade route would be 
followed or whether some compromise plan could be devised. Far too 
often disputes in Northern Ireland has produced innocent victims--many 
of them children, and it occurred again on Sunday night.
  Prime Minister Tony Blair and Northern Ireland's political leaders 
have called for a halt to the current protest at Drumcree to permit a 
period of reflection with respect to recent events. I believe that 
members of the Orange Order should accede to that request. Was the 
dispute over parade routes really worth the lives of three young boys? 
I do not believe it was, nor do vast majority of the people of Northern 
Ireland. It is time for Protestant and Catholic community leaders to 
put aside their excuses for not having a face to face dialogue. Only 
they are capable of fashioning a compromise on matters that divide 
them. Only they can end the senseless violence that threatens to 
destroy the very foundation of the Northern Ireland Peace Agreement 
before it even has a chance to become fully operational.
  Mr. President, The Good Friday Peace Accords were strongly supported 
by the majority of Northern Ireland's Catholics and Protestants in the 
May referendum. The agreement contains a workable plan for getting to 
the root causes of decades of sectarian conflict, but it must be given 
a fair chance to produce results. The most recent tragedy in Central 
Belfast has tested the resolve of Northern Ireland's political leaders 
to stay the course of peace. I hope they will remain resolute in 
support of peace. I pray as well that no more sons or daughters of 
Northern Ireland parents lose their lives as a result of sectarian 
terrorism.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, as my friend and colleague, Senator Dodd, 
has pointed out, during the weekend, three young brothers--10 year old 
Richard Quinn, 9 year old Mark Quinn, and 7 year old Jason Quinn--were 
senselessly murdered because they were Catholic.

  Some time ago, an Independent Parades Commission, appointed by the 
British Government, ruled that members of the Orange Order--a 
Protestant organization that celebrates a centuries--old victory of 
Protestants over Catholics by staging trumphalist marches through 
Protestant and Catholic neighborhoods--could not march through a 
Catholic neighborhood in Portadown, Northern Ireland. But the Orange 
Order refused to accept the ruling and vowed to force the march to 
proceed along the Garvaghy Road in a Catholic neighborhood. A stand-off 
ensued--members of the Orange Order attempted to march through the 
area, but were not allowed past barricades erected by security forces. 
Protestant extremists have used the week-long stand-off as 
justification to carry out attacks on Catholic homes and members of the 
police force.
  Early Sunday morning, in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, many miles from 
Portadown, the Young Quinn boys were asleep in their beds when their 
home was firebombed by individuals who can only be described as 
terrorists. The boys were living in a Protestant neighborhood, and 
their home was targeted because their mother is Catholic.
  Both sides deserve their share of the blame for the sectarian attacks 
that continue in Northern Ireland. But this tragedy never had to happen 
and never should have happened. The Orange Order must recognize that 
its refusal to abide by the decision of the Parades Commission led to 
the murder of the Quinn boys. As a card left at the site of the Quinn 
home read: ``A price to great to pay for a 15 minute walk.''
  Another contentious parade was conducted today in a civilized manner. 
Despite opposition by the local Catholic residents on the Ormeau Road 
in Belfast, the Parades Commission ruled that this parade should be 
permitted. The Orange Order conducted the parade within the bounds set 
down by the Commission, and the residents of the area staged a 
peaceful, dignified protest, but did not attempt to block the parade.
  Prime Minister Tony Blair and Northern Ireland's Secretary of State 
Mo Mowlam deserve credit for not bowing to the pressure of extremists 
in the Orange Order. And I join with Protestant leader David Trimble, 
the First Minister of the new Northern Ireland Assembly, and Deputy 
First Minister Seamus Mallon in calling on those assembled in Portadown 
to end their confrontation in light of this tragedy.
  This brutal fire bombing was the act of cowards. They do not 
represent the vast majority of the people in Northern Ireland, 
Protestants and Catholics alike, who have voted for peace and an end to 
division. Everyone outraged by the murder of these three young boys 
must redouble their efforts to support the peace process and to assure 
that extremists bent on sabotaging that process do not prevail.
  We all extend our deepest sympathies to the members of the family.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to be able to proceed for 10 
more minutes as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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