Reps. condemn North attacks

The members also called for the transfer of policing and justice powers to the North as soon as possible.
The chairman of the Friends of Ireland, Congressman Richard E. Neal, and the co-chairs of the Ad Hoc Committee, Democrats Joe Crowley and Eliot Engel, and Republican Congressman Peter King condemned the dissident actions in the strongest possible terms and called for the swift devolution of policing and justice powers.
“The dissident activity this weekend in Belfast and Fermanagh only reinforces our belief that democratic politics is the only way forward in Northern Ireland.
“These threats will not diminish our unequivocal support for the peace process whose template is the Good Friday Agreement. The small group of individuals responsible for these latest attacks have no support, no strategy and must be brought to justice,” the representatives said.
“We also believe that the swift devolution of policing and justice powers would help undermine the increased threat posed by the dissident groups. This development would send a powerful message that Northern Ireland is committed to power-sharing and that the political transformation in that society is now complete. As bi-partisan members of the United States Congress, we hope the transfer of policing and justice powers happens as soon as possible,” they added.
Prior to the latest attack (reported on Page 4) Rep. Neal had warned of an increasing threat from dissidents, this in the aftermath of the publication of the 22nd Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission.
“The latest IMC report is a stern reminder that there are still a handful of individuals in Northern Ireland who do not want to see politics work. They do not support the peaceful and democratic way forward, and their actions are an attempt to disrupt the extraordinary efforts being made to transform lives and society. We must not allow them to turn the clock back.
In my opinion, the increased threat posed by the dissidents only reinforces the need for swift action on the devolution of policing and justice powers,” said Neal.