Martin Galvin

A chairde: FFAI ISSUES UPDATE A -- Catholic Bishops, legal scholars and justice campaigners slam British plan on legacy killings -- Four Catholic Bishops, legal experts and justice campaigners slammed British plans on crown legacy killings, accusing Britain of "bad faith" and "rewriting the rules of justice." Instead of an Historical Investigations Unit investigating hundreds of controversial killings, including British trooper killings, Britain wants only a review by their appointed "independent body". This panel would close all cases, unless they saw "new compelling evidence and a … [Read more...] about FFAI BULLETIN – May 2020

A chairde: FFAI ISSUES UPDATE A-Search continues for new Irish government coalition after Sinn Fein surprise in February election- Nearly two months after an election producing a three way split between, Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Fine Gael, the leader and composition of the new Irish government are still unknown. Sinn Féin gained 14 seats, and now holds 37,with Fianna Fail at 38,and Fine Gael at 35 seats. At least 80 seats are needed for a government majority and no party is close..The Dáil (Irish parliament)met on February 20th but no one had the votes to form a new government. Outgoing … [Read more...] about FFAI BULLETIN – April 2020

A chairde: FFAI ISSUES UPDATE A-Stormont returns but bad faith on British financial pledges charged- Two days before the deadline threatening a new election, agreement was reached to restore the Stormont Assembly, after a three year absence.DUP head Arlene Foster returned as the north's first minister, while Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill was named deputy first minister. The agreement to restore the assembly was welcomed by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, and accompanied by British promises of extra funding to meet the north's economic crisis in areas … [Read more...] about FFAI BULLETIN – February 2020

A chairde: FFAI ISSUES UPDATE A-Johnson has his Brexit majority - Boris Johnson picked up 47 seats and an overall majority more than 70 seats, which will empower him "to get Brexit done quickly." Meanwhile wins by nationalists and republicans in the north and the Scottish National Party in Scotland, kept Irish unity and Scottish independence on the agenda. Johnson called the British General Election after a series of parliamentary defeats blocked him from moving forward with Brexit and his renegotiated withdrawal agreement out of the European Union. He banked on winning an outright … [Read more...] about FFAI BULLETIN – DECEMBER 2019

Nine days after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans to block prosecutions of British troopers for Troubles killings, the House Foreign Affairs Committee hosted a special briefing by Mark Thompson of Relatives for Justice and Professor Mark McGovern. Congressman Eliot Engel scheduled the briefing, attended by Congressmen, many Congressional aides, two observers from the Irish Embassy and an observer from the British Northern Ireland Office. Mr. Thompson from Belfast and Professor McGovern from Edge Hill University near Liverpool, urged Congress, to take a lead along with Irish … [Read more...] about CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING ON TROOPER AMNESTY

Please donate to this year’s CHRISTMAS APPEAL. Together we can make a difference. All checks must be made out to “Ancient Order of Hibernians”. Payments should be sent to AOH-FFAI PO BOX 904 JEFFERSON VALLEY, NY 10535. Please refer to our Information Packet for more details. Click here for the 2019 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal Packet Your help for freedom for all Ireland is critical. Boris Johnson and the British government are stepping up efforts to deny truth to the families of victims murdered by the crown while starting new prosecutions against Irish Republicans. Brexit … [Read more...] about 2019 Freedom For All Ireland Christmas Appeal

A chairde The House Foreign Affairs Committee has agreed to host an AOH requested briefing of Congressmen by Mark Thompson and Mark McGovern on November 20th open to Friends of Ireland or other members and staff.(see attached) In addition both men will be available in Washington on the 19th and 20th for individual briefings of Congressmen as part of their six state AOH FFAI TOUR. The Committee will host the event but stress that members of Congress only attend these briefings or hold individual meetings if they think it is important for constituents. That means AOH -LAOH and other … [Read more...] about WILL YOUR CONGRESSMAN MEET Mark Thompson and Mark McGovern-November 19th-20th or attend Foreign Affairs Committee Meeting?

A chairde: FFAI ISSUES UPDATE A- Six month deportation reprieve for Malachy McAllister- Less than 48 hours before his scheduled deportation, Senators and Congressmen supporting Malachy McAllister were told that Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan would grant a six month stay. Belfast born Hibernian and key member of the AOH National FFAI Committee, Malachy McAllister was scheduled to be deported on April 30th, after 23 years, in America. He was ordered deported because he had been jailed as a Republican political prisoner for his alleged role in an attack on the Royal … [Read more...] about MAY FFAI 2019 BULLETIN

Hibernians completed a highly publicized nine day fact-finding mission which included, a Ballymurphy Massacre Inquest session, receptions by Belfast and Derry Mayors, questioning Derry's Unionist Deputy Mayor and eight Councillors, briefings on collusion, legacy justice, Brexit, Pat Finucane, Bloody Sunday and the Dalraidian environmental threat, as well as meetings and presentations to community groups. The Freedom for all Ireland (FFAI) delegation led by President Jim McKay and LAOH President Carol Sheyer included leading Hibernians from 13 states. They concluded in Dublin briefing Irish … [Read more...] about HIBERNIAN FACT-FINDING MISSION CONCLUDES

Three key Congressional leaders on Irish issues, Peter King, Richard Neal and Michael Doyle, sent a bipartisan letter to British Ambassador Kim Darroch, citing the crucial implications of the Ballymurphy Inquest for all Troubles legacy issues. The three Congressmen acted after meeting Carmel Quinn during her multi-state American tour representing the Ballymurphy Campaign and Relatives for Justice. This letter is the latest sign of growing American focus on Ballymurphy, spearheaded by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, along with of the Irish American Unity Conference and Brehon Law … [Read more...] about KING-NEAL-DOYLE BACK BALLYMURPHY JUSTICE