Irish praise for Cahill appointment

New York governor George Pataki last week appointed Cahill, his top adviser, to take over the task of boosting a redeveloping process that has lately stalled.
Cahill is a first generation son of Irish immigrants.
The governor’s confidence in Cahill was well placed, the state’s branch of the National Assembly of Irish American Republicans said in a statement
“As a past honoree of The Irish-American Republicans, we are especially proud that John Cahill has been called to serve in this important capacity. We wish him well and congratulate the governor on fulfilling his commitment to restoring Lower Manhattan to its position of greatness,” said IAR chairman Brian McCarthy.
“As he always has, John Cahill will get this job done,” McCarthy said.

KING PLEA FOR MCALLISTER
Congressman Peter King has written to the head of the Department of Homeland Security urging him to stay any future deportation rulings against the Belfast man and two of his children
In his letter to Michael Chertoff, King said that such a suspension could be exercised in the interest of justice and U.S. foreign policy.
King said that based on his personal knowledge of McAllister he believed that McAllister posed “no threat whatever to this country.”
The McAllister case is being considered by the U.S. Third circuit Court of Appeals. A decision is expected within the next few weeks.
“My specific request is that, in the event the Third Circuit rules against Mr. McAllister and his family, you exercise your discretion and stay proceedings against the McAllisters,” King wrote Chertoff.

PHILLY FEDS DEMUR
The FBI in Philadelphia will not comment on a local man’s claim that he was questioned by two federal agents after the recent grenade blast outside the Manhattan building that houses the British Consulate.
A spokeswoman for the bureau’s Philadelphia field office said she could neither confirm nor deny that any such interview.
Erik Robinson, whose mother Dorothy Robinson has been an especially outspoken Northern Ireland activist in recent years, said he had been quizzed about his political views as they related to Northern Ireland and the peace process.
Robinson, a member of clan Na Gael, later described the interview as “bizarre.”

A $MOKING GUN
A Canadian auction house is laying a gun down on a table with the hope of attracting a high caliber price.
Jeffrey Hoare Auctions of Hamilton, Ontario is selling the “historically important revolver” seized from James Patrick Whelan following the assassination of Thomas D’Arcy McGee, a Member of the Canadian House of Commons and one of the Fathers of Canadian Confederation.
The revolver will be sold at public auction on May 22. Details of the sale are available at www.jeffreyhoare.on.ca.
Louth native McGee was assassinated in April, 1868. A journalist and fervent Irish nationalist in his early years, McGee first immigrated to the U.S. and later to Canada where he transformed himself into an equally fervent advocate of British rule.
McGee was fatally shot with a single bullet while walking on an Ottawa street. Whelan, an Irish-born tailor, was subsequently charged, convicted and hanged.

PINK SHOCKS IRISH COURT
An Irish court has delayed proceedings in the extradition case of an accused pedophile priest after it was shown a photo of prisoners in Arizona being marched in pink underwear.
The photo was taken in Maricopa County where local sheriff, Joe Arpaio, has gained a national reputation for his no frills treatment of inmates.
Sligo priest, Father Patrick Colleary, is wanted by federal authorities in Phoenix on two counts of sexual conduct with a minor and one of attempted sexual conduct stemming from a time when Colleary worked as a pastor in the state.
The extradition is being considered by the High Court in Dublin. Colleary, 55, has denied the charges and, according to an Irish Independent report, is fighting extradition in part due to his contention that prison conditions overseen by Sheriff Arpaio are inhumane.
Irish prosecutors have delayed proceedings in the case as they await clarification and assurances from the U.S. Justice Department.

BRANGAN FOR MEXICO POST
While Irish Consul General in New York, Eugene Hutchinson, is packing his bags for the Irish embassy in Kuala Lumpur, the political counselor at the Irish Embassy in Washington, Dermot Brangan, will be booking a flight to Mexico City.
Brangan, who previously worked as press spokesman at the New York, has been appointed the new Irish ambassador to Mexico.
While based in Mexico City, Brangan’s diplomatic brief will also cover Cuba, El Salvador, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela.
Brangan will be replaced at the embassy by Orla O’Hanrahan, former consul general in Boston.
Meanwhile, San Francisco consul general, Donal Denham, has been appointed ambassador to Lithuania. His replacement in San Francisco has not yet been announced.
In Boston, current consul general Isolde Moylan will be replaced by David Barry. Ireland’s ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Ryan, is moving to the Hague and will be replaced by the Irish mission’s political director, David Cooney.