AS TRIBUTES pour in from the world over for former US President Jimmy Carter, who just lately celebrated his one hundredth birthday, a Fermanagh priest has recalled how the Nobel Peace Prize winner had “needed to do the precise factor” concerning the North.
Fr Sean McManus, who initially hails from Kinawley and is the brother of former MP Frank McManus, is the president and founding father of the highly effective Washington-based political foyer group the Irish Nationwide Caucus.
Responding to an article by journalist and founding father of the Irish Central web site, Niall O’Dowd, Fr McManus stated, “God bless former President Jimmy Carter.
“He needed to do the precise factor concerning Northern Eire. It was dangerous sufficient Carter needed to take care of the terrible Maggie Thatcher, as this text explains. Nonetheless, even worse, the dreadful Garett Fitzgerald did all in his energy to oppose Carter’s need to assist.”
Fr McManus famous the Irish Central article, which focussed on how President Carter clashed with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on a US ban on arms shipments to the RUC, “makes essential studying.”
Within the article, Mr O’Dowd outlines the way it was lobbying from Fr McManus and the Irish Nationwide Caucus that initially led to the ban in 1979.
It was a transfer by the US authorities that Prime Minister Thatcher reportedly felt strained the allies’ ‘particular relationship.’
The British Authorities had ordered hundreds of arms, resembling Magnum handguns and semiautomatic rifles, from a company in Connecticut, nevertheless the US authorities determined to withhold export licences for the cargo to the RUC.
Prime Minister Thatcher even travelled to Washington to push for a reversal of the choice, reportedly “education the US president on the battle.” She additionally despatched 4 papers to the US detailing UK coverage.
Inspecting stories, minutes and beforehand sealed paperwork from the time, the article famous President Carter, in response to Prime Minister Thatcher’s request, had requested US Speaker of the Home Tip O’Neill to reverse the ban.
Nonetheless Speaker O’Neill, whose each mother and father hailed from Inishowen in Co Donegal, refused.
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Posted: 9:54 am October 17, 2024
