British MP's lead call for Nelson inquiry
by Pádraig MacDabhaid
Labour MP Ken Livingstone has led calls for an independent judicial
inquiry into the murder of Rosemary Nelson and the death threats that
she had received from the RUC.
Mr Livingstone tabled an Early Day Motion motion in the English House
of Commons which called on the House to extend its deepest sympathy
to the Nelson family. The motion also asked the House to note that Ms
Nelson had complained to the International Operations and Human
Rights Sub-commitee of the US House International Relations Committee
hearing on Human Rights in the Six Counties of RUC harassment and
death threats, a situation which had grown worse since she began to
represent the residents of the Garvaghy Road. He also noted that her
complaints about RUC death threats ``received no satisfactory
response'' and highlighted the links between her death and the murder
of Pat Finucane.
Livingstone goes on to note that the UN Special Rapporteur on the
Independence of Judges and Lawyers reported the threats against Mrs
Nelson and he accepted that her life was in danger.
He concluded by calling for an independent inquiry into her death and
the involvement of the security forces in her death.
The motion is attracting support from MP's from various party's.
Immediately after being posted there were 26 open signatures of MP's
added to the motion and that number is steadily growing.
The support for an inquiry has also attracted large volumes of
support on the ground both in Ireland and England.
In England a large crowd attended a black flag protest held in
London's Trafalgar Square on Tuesday 16 March in memory of Rosemary
Nelson. In Birmingham a black flag vigil was held on Saturday 20
March with the aim of remembering not only Mrs Nelson but also to
draw attention to the significance of her work as ``an inspirational
campaigner for justice, freedom and human rights''. The Celtic league
also added their support to calls for an independent inquiry.
Protests against the RUC and calls for an independent inquiry also
spread across the Six Counties.
A silent vigil was held outside Downpatrick RUC barracks on Tuesday
16 March. Sinn Féin's Down District councillor Paddy McGreevy, who
attended the vigil, said, ``Rosemary Nelson was a beacon for truth and
justice. Like Pat Finucane before her she fought against state
injustice and in particular the excess of the RUC. For this she was
threatened many times. He added, ``Ronnie Flanagan's announcement of
an RUC inquiry headed by a British Police Chief is totally
inadequate.''
trim town saw a demonstration on Sunday 21 March while in Strabane
hundreds of nationalists took to the streets on Tuesday 16 March and
held a 45 minute black flag vigil at Strabane RUC barracks. Those in
attendance heard Sinn Féin's John Kelly pay tribute to the work of
Mrs Nelson both as a lawyer and as a mother who struggled for human
rights.
Among the community and residents groups who lent their support for
an independent public inquiry was the South Armagh Farmers and
Residents Committee who's PRO Toni Carragher lashed out at any RUC
involvement in the inquiry.
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