"Certainly, they are entitled to make a statement, but the reason that U.S. Rep. Payne is being recognized is his strong commitment to Irish issues over the years as a member of Congress," he said.
Giblin said Payne has "stood tall" for the Irish by helping Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams get a visa so he could visit the United States and by making visits to Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Wow, Now I'm even more impressed with this guy. He sticks up for cop killers and gutless, baby-killing terrorists.
I guess Giblin thought this bit of info would make us feel warm and fuzzy?
FEBRUARY 2005 : (SINN FEIN LEADERS INCLUDING GERRY ADAMS ARE MEMBERS OF THE IRA'S COMMAND) DUBLIN, Ireland - In an unprecedented confrontation, the Irish government on Sunday publicly identified three of Sinn Fein's top figures — including party leader Gerry Adams — as members of the Irish Republican Army command. The government's blunt declaration indicated it no longer would tolerate Adams' protestations that his party should not be held accountable for IRA actions. The shift is intended to force the illegal IRA to disarm fully and disband, or risk the marginalization of the legal Sinn Fein. Political passions are reaching a boiling point in Ireland over the IRA's alleged $50 million robbery of a Belfast bank — the biggest heist in history — and an unfolding investigation into wider IRA money laundering. The Irish government says Sinn Fein leaders are involved in both. (Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...------- "Ireland: Three Sinn Fein Members in IRA," Associated Press ^ | 02/20/2005 | SHAWN POGATCHNIK