Envoy vows to raise UVF murder in Washington
Allegations that loyalist killers were shielded by police are to be raised with officials in Washington, the US Consul General in the North vowed today.
Dean Pittman made the pledge after meeting Raymond McCord, the father of an Ulster Volunteer Force murder victim.
Mr McCord has been demanding justice over claims that his son Raymond Jr, a 22-year-old former RAF operator, was beaten to death and dumped in a north Belfast quarry in 1997 on the orders of a special branch informer within the UVF.
A major probe into his allegations, carried out by Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan’s investigators, is close to completion.
And after lobbying political leaders on both sides of the Irish border, Mr McCord today held hour-long talks with the Consul General at his offices in south Belfast.
Mr Pittman said after the meeting: “We have been aware of the case and we wanted to hear Mr McCord’s story first hand.
“We had a good discussion and I admire Mr McCord’s efforts to get justice for his son.
“I told him we would continue to follow the case and would convey to officials in Washington the issues that Mr McCord raised with me.”
It is understood senior representatives from both Sinn Féin and the SDLP pressed Mr McCord’s case during the St Patrick’s Day celebrations at the White House.
The Belfast man has alleged that a ruthless UVF unit in the north of the city was under state control and given a free reign to murder.
He has been backed by both Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and SDLP leader Mark Durkan.
Last month he also met with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern in a bid to intensify pressure on the authorities to hold a public inquiry into his claims.
Mr McCord said he was encouraged by the level of interest shown by the Consul General.
“These are people who are long-term informers allowed to kill,” he claimed.
“Senior people, including the man who ordered my son’s murder, were involved in murder after murder.
“The Americans now have taken a very keen interest in this case.
“I have asked them to use whatever influence they have on the British Government to put pressure on Tony Blair.
“Dean Pittman will speak to his people in Washington and the Special Envoy (to the North) Mitchell Reiss.
“I would like to think the Americans will become highly involved in it, particularly with Mrs O’Loan’s report due out.”
