Grieving mother hopes to meet Red Cross and Human Rights chiefs

Donna Smith whose son Andy was brutally gunned down by members of Republican Action Against Drugs in Buncrana in February of this year, last month saw another son forced into exile by the new IRA, which comprises RAAD, the Real IRA and a mixture of non aligned micro groups.

She said: “I want to highlight what has happened not just to my own family but to many other victims in the Derry area and I am seeking meetings with representatives of the Red Cross and Human Rights Commission to point out how people’s rights are being violated here.

“I have met a number of victims through rallies and other events in the city and I hope to put together a delegation so that the Red Cross and Human Rights Commission get to hear what’s been happening and how many people are being affected. Many victims have no voice so hopefully these organisations will help us to get the message across. of how this group is taking lives and destroying families.”

Her move follows the condemnation of the murder of Prison Officer David Black in Portadown last week by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which pointed out that not only did the terrorists deprive Mr Black of his right to life, their cold-blooded actions also had an impact on the human rights of other members of society,

Between them, the groups that form the new IRA have been responsible for a number of attacks on police targets and civilians in Londonderry as well. The Real IRA murdered civilian David Caldwell in the city ten years ago when he picked up a booby trapped lunchbox. It was also believed to be behind attacks on banks and the City of Culture offices.

It was also believed to be responsible for a bomb attack on the home of Dr Keith Munro last year. After that incident the ICRC told the Sentinel that it was very concerned at the targeting of health workers.

According to the ICRC armed conflict is government by International Humanitarian Law (IHL), while violent situations, such as the one in Northern Ireland, are governed by International Human Rights Law (IHRL).

Asked about the attack on Dr Munro, a spokesman for ICRC said at the time: “The International Committee of the Red Cross does not consider the current situation in Northern Ireland to be an Armed Conflict, and with this in mind the Geneva Conventions do not apply. While the ICRC is mandated by states as guardian of the body of law applicable in Armed Conflict (i.e. International Humanitarian Law as detailed in the Geneva Conventions and its Additional Protocols), it is nevertheless concerned with situations of violence where there are significant humanitarian consequences for the civilian population.

“As such, the ICRC is concerned by the targeting of health care workers, of which this appears to be an example.”