Mr. Chairman let us regain our perspective as Americans, a people devoted to justice and decency. Let us speak out against repression in Ulster, and for the freedom of the Irish people.

STATEMENT OF HON. LOUISE DAY HICKS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to voice my concern over the present situation in Northern Ireland. The violence and bloodshed of "Bloody Sunday" has dramatically pointed out the tragedy and horror suffered by Northern Ireland and its people. Its people suffer and its divisions grow greater and deeper daily. The consequences of imposing law and order have been disastrous and repressive. It has become quite clear that the British troops have not only failed but have added to the violence and often caused it. We can no longer tolerate this unjust situation which has brought tragedy and misery into the lives of the people of Northern Ireland.

The Catholic minority in Northern Ireland has over the years been blatantly discriminated against and is denied basic civil rights and equal justice under the law. Abuse, humiliation and frustration have been a stark reality for the Catholics of Northern Ireland. Catholic civil rights groups have agitated for redress of well-justified grievances, such as the denial of the principle of oneman-one-vote, as well as discrimination in housing and employment.

British actions and policies have been a complete failure. I strongly believe that British troops must leave Northern Ireland now, for we have seen that civilians must now protect themselves from the "protectors." Civil disobedience has clearly spread rapidly and has intensified hatreds and frustrations to the brink of civil war. A political settlement cannot be achieved while a systematic repressive military force exists and while this very force is implementing the -hameful policy of internment without trial, directed almost exclusively against the Catholics and is generally harrassing, intimidating, and terrorizing the Catholic population.

PRESENT RISK GREATEST

I firmly believe that the long standing policy of discrimination against the Catholic minority must be brought under control and that the long-run solution may be a free and united Ireland. Indeed, it would not be an easy task but it is quite evident that continuation along present lines by all parties concerned presents the greatest risk.

The tragedy of Bloody Sunday and the 13 deaths appear to symbolize the end of Northern Ireland in its present political form; almost all Catholics have withdrawn from government positions, lawyers are considering a boycott of the courts, and thousands of families have refused to pay rents and electricity bills. Clearly these conditions represent a radicalization of even the moderate elements within the Catholic community. The outraged Catholic minority which at first was but demanding equality in housing and employment has come to totally disregard the government as a viable force, and has turned to the I.R.A. The I.R.A. has now become the symbol of liberation. A civil rights leader aptly expressed the sentiments of the Catholic minority shortly following the funerals of the Londonderry victims when he said that faith in the system had been shattered and it would have to be replaced. The anguish felt by the Catholic minority in Ulster must command the sympathy and indignation of all free men. The following communique received by a nun in Boston from her mother who resides in Londonderry underscores the horrors of the developments taking place in Northern Ireland, particularly those happenings on January 13, 1972. The letter was read by President Mary Concannon to members of the Irish Social Club in Boston at a meeting held to engender support for the victims and their families of that bloody Sunday. The Irish Social Club is made up of more than 7500 members dedicated to an United Ireland with equality for all, with an orderly withdrawal of British troops.

In order that you Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee may have a first hand account of bloody Sunday, I would like to read to you the aforementioned letter.

FEBRUARY 6, 1972.

DEAR MAUREEN, We received your parcel during last week. The dressing gowns and night dresses are lovely, just what I wanted, Maureen, and your father got your cards as well also-Rosary and after shave. Thank you very much for them. Well Maureen Derry had their Bloody Sunday last week when the

Civil Rights March went to a meeting which was to be held in Guild-hall Square. It was a lovely bright sunny day, just like a day in Spring as the marchers set off from the Bishop's field beside Creggan Chapel. It was such a nice day I decided to go to the bottom of the hill beside Jack McDaid's shop, to see them marching as I knew, I never could have walked to the Creggan and then marched. I was talking to Anna McMahon when the marchers came along Marlborough Terrace and turned down Creggan Street, when I saw your father and Anton come along I joined them. Everything was so joyful, it was like a picnic. When the start of the march got to the bottom of William Street, the way was blocked by troops (Paratroopers the toughest soldiers trained like the Storm troopers of Hitler's Germany). They had barracades erected so that the marchers couldn't get through. The boys at the front started to throw some stones at the soldiers and police. but nothing like what I saw thrown at them many's a time before. The Stewarts directed the marchers towards the Free Derry Corner for the meeting, as the finish of the marchers walked across Rossville Street, the Saracen's with the Paratroops roared behind them terrorising the people. They started running away from the Saracens.

Your father and I were very lucky because when the marchers had reached the bottom of William Street before they turned into Rossville Street, the soldiers started to shower them with red dye from the water wagon and fire C.S. gas high up William Street. By this time we (your father, Anton and myself) were almost at Rossville Street Corner, the people all started to move back as the gas was terrible, it was a miracle no one was trampled upon as they couldn't see where! they were moving with the gas. The gas started to affect me badly so your father pushed me up William Street to where Ritchier factory used to be. It's a vacant spot now. As the wind was blowing across that way your father said, "Get in there and you'll get some fresh air," little known that there were two soldiers lying on the flat roof of the Church in St. James's Street (as Ritchie's Factory has been taken away now, the back of the church is facing William Street) two soldiers were on top of the Post Office sorting office and two were in the front room of an empty. I was coughing and sneezing from the gas and after it eased a little I crossed the street to where Mary and Eddie were standing. We had lost Anton in the panic at the Rossville Corner, he had went over Rossville Street and up at the back of William Street to come out at Abby Street. When your father and myself got over to Mary and Eddie, Maureen came out from the opening into William Street, beside the Grand Stand Bar to tell us that a man had been shot in the shoulder and a boy in the leg. They were being attended by the Knight's of Malta. They must have been shot by the soldiers on the Church roof or the sorting office roof, as I said to your father after, "little good fresh air would do me, if I had got a bullet through me."

FIRST SHOTS IN DERRY

Those were the first shots that were fired in Derry last Sunday, although the Paratroopers tried to make out that when they came into Rossville Street they were fired on by snipers firing from the high flats, this is all lies because there wasn't a provo or an official armed I.R.A. man near. They decided to pull all their men out to the outskirts of Creggan and Guard Creggan, as they thought that the soldiers would try to get into the Creggan and start searching the houses when all the people were at the march, if the soldiers would take the trouble to think, why were they aiming at the people running around in terror and why were so many of the people shot, got it in the back. To continue the story we decided to go home, we thought there was only the two wounded whom Maureen saw; it could as easily have been Anton or Tommy McDaid as they were beside the two who were shot. The young boy was shot in the thigh first and he was roaring, the man went to assist him and he got shot in the arm. Antoinette was on duty as a Knight of Malta, I had seen her pass by near the front of the marchers but I hadn't seen Lian, Malachy, or Kieren. Shawn was away playing and Eamon was working. It was not until later that night that we heard about the massacre by the British murderers, paid assassins. What happened in the Bogside will never be forgotten by the people of Derry.

What I'm telling you now is what the family saw and heard. When the Saracens with the paratroops behind them came into Rossville Street beside the high flats, they rushed in groups to different places. Then they started shooting Bernedette had just taken the mike in her hand when she was shot at, she called on everybody to lie flat and not panic, (this was at the Free Derry Corner where Ivan Cooper, Bernadette Devlin and the other speakers were standing on the platform everyone thought it was rubber bullets which were being fired until someone was hit, then some youth called "run, they are shooting live bullets at us." There

was panic. Everybody was running for cover, the soldiers were just firing at everyone especially young boys. Some one's prayers must have saved Antoinette and the boys. Malachy panicked and ran into Glen Fada Park and a man caught aim by the shoulder and pulled him into a back yard where they crouched down behind the pilings.

They saw a lot of death that night, when he was running three boys also ran into Glen Fadda from the other entrance with soldiers behind them. They were shot and the man who was with Malachy whispered through the slits in the pilings to the boy who was lying nearest to them, if he was badly wounded, whereupon the boy said he couldn't move. The boy next to him didn't move and the one furtherest away raised his head a little and then let it fall. The soldiers came over to the boy who couldn't move and shot him dead and then they went over to a group of women and used terrible language to them. They told them if they moved they would be shot. About this time, the man who was with Malachy said they would be better to give themselves up. So they came out with their hands on their head towards Rossville Street where again they saw a young boy called Young. He was standing with his hands on his head. He panicked and took his hands down to run but the soldiers shot him dead. It was as he was shot that Malachy panicked. He ran up towards what used to be Eglington place and the nan also ran down towards Rossville Street. The soldiers shot after them. The bullet grazed Malachy's hand. He was lucky. It could as easily have gone through his head. The man ran down towards Rossville Street. Malachy heard them shootng after him but didn't look back to see if he was hit or not. As for Liam five of them ran across St. Columb's Court. Three of them were shot dead. Liam and the other boy made it. When we look back now, we just can't believe it happened. It is like a nightmare. When the man and Malachy were running to get into the vard, the man thought they wouldn't get there. He said to Malachy, "I'm afraid we won't make it;" but thank God they did. As the Saracens came rushing into Rossville Street they didn't care whether they knocked down anyone or not. A girl called Lanough Burke was crushed against the wall. She was carried into the house where Antoinette attended her. As she thought she needed an ambulance she left the house to cross St. Columb's Court below the High Flats. She didn't know that the soldiers and police were shooting also from the walls. A Knight of Malta pulled Antoinette into a corner below the High Flats. In the corner were about 20 men and two girls. A man we know as Barney McGuigan was lying shot dead. Another man lay about 6 feet away and further up the court Father Bradley was attending a dying man. The troops from the walls were shooting at Father Bradley as he knelt beside the man.

AN ACT OF CONTRITION

Every time Antoinette and the other Knight of Malta tried to get to Barney McGuigan, they were shot at. Antoinette says that all they could do was say an act of Contrition and two decades of the Rosary kneeling about three foot from him. When Antoinette and another girl Knight of Malta went to get an ambulance for the three men, two soldiers wanted to search them but the girl told them to catch themselves on, that they were looking for an ambulance for three bodies lying over the street. One of them said, "so what" and the other said "Ha Ha". Could you believe they could be so callous. A widow woman with thirteen children was shot through the thigh. It was the first time that she had taken part in a march. We just heard last night that she is very ill and not expected to live. She had to be removed to Belfast. Her leg was very badly shattered but those fools over in Altnagelvin give her the wrong blood group in a transfusion. Father Daly was running across the Square. A young boy was running in front of him. Father Daly passed him and then heard him gasp. He thought he was hit by a rubber bullet so he looked back and saw blood flying from him. He rushed back to him and saw he was dying. So he gave him the Last Rites, as he knelt beside. He was shot at. The heel of his shoe was shot off. Father Daly says that a young Knight of Malta crept out to help the dying boy although the bullets were flying around them. He thought it was the bravest thing. He saw the young Knight was crying and so was Father Daly. Ivan Cooper and another man rushed out to help a boy who was shot. Ivan carried a white flag, but even with the white flag the man with Ivan was shot through the cheek. When one of the priests went to give the Last Rites to a man who was shot, the soldiers keep shooting. One young man ran out calling "Don't shoot the Priest." "Shoot me. "And they shot the boy. One young boy was shot in the stomach. He crawled into a door-way. Barney McGuigan was round the corner in safety but when he heard the boy he said he was going to him, soldiers or no soldiers. Just as he stepped out half his face just disintegrated. Some of the men who saw it happen just couldn't believe what they saw. Some men who

were carrying a boy shot dead to an ambulance called Father Daly to go in front of them waving a white pillow case. You should have seen Father Daly on TV coming around a corner. Bent down waving the white cloth. Even then a crowd of of soldiers came over to the men to examine the body.

One boy was arrested and as the soldiers were putting him into a Saracen tank, he started to run away. The soldier shot him through the back. Two other boys were arrested and put into a Saracen. The soldier then put a C.S. gas cannister into the tank with them. The boys jumped out to get air and were then shot dead Maureen these are only a few of the incidents that happened at a peaceful Civil Rights march on the Bloodiest Sunday Derry has ever seen. I could write a book on the happenings. How our connection got through it, I'll never know. Willie found himself facing one of the Saracens as it roared at him he thought it was the finish for him, so just stood and a big sign of the Cross on himself. At the last ¦ moment the Saracen suddenly turned from him. He couldn't believe they were. Seamus was up beside the platform when the shooting started. Everybody go down flat on the ground except Seamus. One of the priests called to him to be flat but even to save his life Seamus called to him "what with my new suit on.' But he got down behind a pillar near him. Margaret and Helen Johnston were near a boy who was shot. They went to help him and found another lying on the ground dead as the gel near the boy lying wounded on a barricade. The soldiers came at them hitting Margaret with the butt of the rifle on the head and punching and kicking Helen. The language they used was awful. They then turned the boy i over and shot him in the back. When I look back to that Sunday in Derry it is hard to believe that things like these could happen here. You must know John Young. He was the youngest of the family. Just 17 years. Malachy saw him beint shot dead. His sister was at the Rosemount School with you and Eileen. She had dark curly hair. His mother was Lily Hegarty from Cottage Row and the father came from Donegal Street. Lily Young opposite Paddy's shop is a cousin. Wilk McKinney lived next door to your Uncle Paddy in the Creggan. He worked in the Journal Office. It was your Uncle Paddy who went with him to get the job. We were very great with the McKinney's. Liam palled it with Joseph, Willie's brother for a time. He is a machine mechanic in the City Factory. I was also very grea with the Mother of Gerard McKinney who was shot. His wife had a baby son ca Sunday last. That makes the family three boys and five girls. Mrs. Gerard Me Kinney was Ita Kane from Beechwood Avenue. I think she was at school with Eileen and you. Also Gerard's father was Mr. McKinney, manager of the Rosemount Factory. And his mother was an examiner there.

You often heard your father talk about his cousin Sally McLaughlin. His Aunt Nellie's daughter young Doherty who was a son of Alice McGuigan who lived up Westway opposite the Basin. She used to be always sitting out in the garden every Sunday when we passed on the way to Holywell or for a walk Barney was married with 6 or 7 children, one of the best. He was safe himself it a corner when a young boy was shot. The boy crept into a door way of the shops, He was crying and yelling "I don't want to die." Barney couldn't stand it. He said no matter what happened he was going out to help the boy. Some of the others tried to stop him but he went out from the corner and the next thing ther saw was half of his head disintegrating before their eyes. He was shot at from behind and you can guess the others were. His eye lid with eye lashes was see sticking against the wall, also an eye. It was really gruesome. Another boy's brains lay behind a big stone. Eddie Anton, your father saw them. All thes things have been impressed so much in our minds that it will take a couple of generations before they ease off. When I think of all those shot dead and lo supposed wounded. But there were far more than 16. Some of the others go! treatment other than Altnagehiem. It's a miracle that our clan escaped. Well Maureen, I hope you will be able to make all this letter out.

Love,

MOTHER,

P.S. I started this letter last week and I'm only getting it finished now. I'm getting it posted in Eire as everything here is being censored and you wouldn't get it. We got your letter this morning. Don't forget to write to Mary and Eddie to thank them. The British Army must have had a red face because none of the 13 who were shot or the twenty or so who were wounded had the remotest connection with either the provos or the Official I.R.A. You see everybody here knew what the plan of the Paratroopers was. One of them deserted the Thursday before Bloody Sunday. After hearing their orders and sought Political Asylum in

Dublin. It seems the scheme was that the Paras were to shoot two men then vait twenty minutes until the news got through to the I. R.A. who would come to he defense of the marchers but the scheme misfired. Right enough the soldiers hot the two, one boy and the other a man. The boy was called Doneghy and the nan was Johnson and they waited twenty minutes before they roared into the Bogside but they didn't know that the I.R.A. had stayed up in the Creggan to rotect the houses if the soldiers tried to search them. While the people were n the march and that the shooting was so bad nobody thought of going ip to the Creggan to let them know what happened. Everything was over before the word got through to the I.R.A.

I strongly believe that we in the Congress as responsible and concerned indijduals should urge the Administration to take appropriate actions to place Northern Ireland on the U.N. Security Council agenda and to persuade the British overnment to accept a U.N. Peacekeeping Force. By these actions I would hope hat the result would be a country in which the people of Ireland could live in armony, peace, dignity, and equal justice.

STATEMENT OF HON. EDWARD I. KOCH, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK

MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE: There are so many members of the Congress and members of the public who wish to testify before your Committee in opposition to the actions taken by the government of Northern reland and that of Great Britain, so I will be brief. I am, as many of our colleagues re, a cosponsor of H. Res. 653, known as the Kennedy-Carey resolution. I hope hat the principles set forth in that resolution will soon be realized without more lood being shed. Those who initially critized supporters of that resolution is involving themselves in an "internal matter" of another government, now now better. The atrocities committed by the government of Northern Ireland nd British paratroopers require that people of good will wherever situated speak ut in condemnation and I will continue to do so. I should like at this point in the ecord to place into the Record some of the statements which I have made on the ubject so as not to use the valuable time of this committee to repeat them.

[From the Congressional Record, Oct. 26, 1971]

PEACE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND

Mr. KocH. Mr. Speaker, the continuing turmoil in Northern Ireland deeply disturbs me. What, however, I find even more distressing is that an end to the injustices causing this violence does not yet appear in sight.

Since the treaty of 1921, which established the six counties of Northern Ireland, the Catholic minority has been the victim of blatant discrimination. The Cameron report, a 1969 official document of the British Government, cites examples of this discrimination in the areas of local government appointments, local government electoral boundaries, housing allocations, and employment. While some measures have finally been instituted in an attempt to end these injustices, the government's revival of internment policies appears to me to be a step backward.

I have become, therefore, a cosponsor of Congressman Hugh Carey's resolution which calls for peace in Northern Ireland, and if implemented could hopefully bring a realization of this goal. One of these is the termination of the current internment policy under the Special Powers Act, and simultaneous release of all persons previously detained. Another is full respect for the civil rights of all the people of Northern Ireland and an end to political, social, economic, and religious discrimination. A third measure calls for implementation of the promised reforms by Great Britain in the fields of law enforcement, housing, employment, and voting rights. The dissolution of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and withdrawal of all British forces is another provision.

Under this arrangement law enforcement would be placed under local control acceptable to all parties. And finally, this resolution expresses the hope for a convening of all interested parties for the purpose of accomplishing the unification of Ireland.

It is my hope for an early passage of this resolution, even though its effect is moral in that obviously our Congress cannot legally bind the parties involved in