[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 52 (Thursday, March 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E794]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2009

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise this evening to join political 
leaders of Northern Ireland in condemning the recent murders of two 
British soldiers and a British police officer in Northern Ireland.
  Two dissonant republican groups, the Continuity I.R.A. and the Real 
I.R.A., have claimed responsibility for the attacks. The first, on a 
Saturday evening, occurred when two British soldiers guarding a base 
outside of Antrim were gunned down. Two pizza delivery workers were 
also tragically injured in the attack. The second attack came on a 
recent Monday when gunmen shot a member of the Police Service of 
Northern Ireland on duty near Belfast.
  This small group of political dissidents is not representative of the 
overall peace and unity that so many have worked so hard for since the 
Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. They should not be allowed to 
return us to the days of the Troubles.
  I call on anyone with information on those who perpetrated these 
attacks to come forward so that justice can be served. Foolish attacks 
such as these will not put a stop to the peace process that has been 
gaining momentum over the last ten years in Northern Ireland.
  With the news that three political dissidents were arrested this past 
weekend, I hope all can work towards bringing justice to these 
senseless murders. The arrests stirred riots by those supportive of the 
individuals being prosecuted. No matter what their political 
allegiance, these rioters should allow the police to do what is 
necessary to charge those that committed these crimes.
  Since the power-sharing government was reinstated in May 2007, the 
political process has taken great strides forward. The people of 
Northern Ireland must pull together and ensure that the cowards who 
committed these crimes aren't successful in allowing their wrongs to be 
a political statement. After years of aggression, peace has clearly 
prevailed over violence in Northern Ireland and these heinous attacks 
will not change that.
  I stand in solidarity with those who silently protested these murders 
last Wednesday in Belfast. These thousands of protesters across the 
province demonstrate that no amount of senseless violence will fracture 
the unity of the people in the North of Ireland.
  Furthermore, it is important that violence not beget violence. 
Retaliation by those in the Protestant community will only exacerbate 
this disgraceful spell of terrorism. Peace will ultimately prevail in 
Northern Ireland.
  With the mutual condemnation of these attacks from both sides of the 
political spectrum, I am hopeful that Martin McGuinness and Peter 
Robinson will take the lead in reinforcing their commitment to peace in 
the province.
  Events like these recent attacks represent the past in the North of 
Ireland. We must be focused on developing the economy in the North of 
Ireland, educating children, and training workers--not reverting to the 
bloody violence of the past.
  Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in denouncing this 
recent disturbing and senseless violence in Northern Ireland. With all 
of the progress made since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, the 
people of Northern Ireland will only accept peace as the answer. We 
must not allow these murderers to be successful in disrupting that 
goal.

                          ____________________