Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

Declaration of Martin McCauley

Following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and the International Commission headed by Chris Patten, a former British government minister and former British Governor of Hong Kong, was established to make recommendations for the creation of a new police service that would be acceptable to all sections of the community. I gave evidence to this Commission based on my own experiences at the hands of the RUC. As a result of my court case and the publicity it received I was subjected to a campaign of vicious harassment by the RUC and the British military. A bomb was placed at my home. At that time I was legally represented by Rosemary Nelson, a human rights lawyer. Rosemary was threatened by the RUC. In 1999 the same death squads that had killed Pat Finucane, killed Rosemary Nelson.

I was in genuine fear for the safety of myself and my family. I moved from the North of Ireland, which is under British occupation and went to live in the south.

Prior to moving south, I had been involved with former political prisoners in Lurgan, Co. Armagh. When I had settled into my new home I became reinvolved with work for former prisoners. I re-established contact with Jim Monaghan who I had met previously. Through this work I became involved in discussions and debates on conflict and conflict resolution.

I met Niall Connolly through Jim, following a discussion on Latin America. When the idea of the trip to Colombia arose I agreed to travel with Jim and Niall. I had never been to Latin America, and I was interested in visiting this continent and seeing their peace process.

I have lived openly, north and south for 20 years. I have been in regular employment. Part of my employment involved me adapting motor vehicles for use by people with disabilities. I have travelled openly all over Ireland. I have not been charged with any of the offences alleged by the RUC or the British Embassy. I am not a member of the IRA. I am not guilty of the charges laid out against me in this court.

Like my two friends I was using another name. Each of us had experience of threats, harassment and violence in shared and different situations. There is nothing more than a desire to travel unhindered in the fact that I was travelling on another name. I have explained how my life and those of my family have been threatened. I have explained how two human rights lawyers who have worked on my behalf [Pat Finucane and Rosemary Nelson] were murdered by pro-British death squads.

I am a supporter of Irish republicanism. I have worked within my community to help give a political voice to their views. I am not a member of Sinn Féin. I have worked for Sinn Féin candidates in elections. I believe in the right of the Irish people to control their destiny free from foreign occupation and interference.

The peace process in Ireland continues to survive but it has been undermined and attacked by elements within the British political and military establishment and from pro-British forces in Ireland. Our arrest in Colombia has been used by these and other elements to further undermine the peace process. Elements in the Colombian military and the political establishment have fed lies and misinformation to the media to serve their own interests. The Embassy of the United States cannot escape criticism for its role in this affair. Their so-called forensic evidence against us is fraudulent and misleading.

I wish to directly refute the evidence given by Captain Pulido. At no stage did I speak with this man. At the airport I was not asked for my passport nor was I asked my name at the time of my arrest. Captain Pulido's testimony is wrong.

In conclusion, I wish to thank my family and friends, the legal and political observers who have travelled great distances to help us, and everyone involved in the Bring Them Home campaign.