West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

West Belfast Sinn Fein chair speaks at Pearse Jordan mural unveiling

Published: 2 August, 2008

Republicans from throughout Belfast gathered on Saturday, August 2, for a walk across the Black mountain and the unveiling of a mural in support of the campaign for truth and justice for Pearse Jordan who was murdered by the RUC on the Falls Road on November 25, 1992.

The mural was unveiled at the site of the former Andersonstown RUC barracks where Pearse's killers left from and returned to after the murder.

Sinn Fein councillor Marie Moore, a friend of the Jordan family, chaired the event and thanked all those who took part in the mountain walk and who attended the mural launch.

Ms Moore also thanked mural artist Danny Devenney for the hard work and effort that he put into creating the mural.

Ballymurphy republican Patrick Adams, the west Belfast Sinn Fein chairperson, was the speaker at the mural launch.

Mr Adams said:

''Tá fáilte roimh go leir.

''I want to welcome all of you here today.

''A special welcome is extended to Pearse Jordan's family.

''His parents Hugh & Teresa are here today.

''So are many of his comrades, friends and neighbours.

''I also want to thank Danny Devenney on behalf of everyone here for the time and the effort that he has put into painting the mural we unveil today.

''I'd like to say a few words about why we are here today. Before I do, I would like to speak about Pearse.

''Pearse Jordan was from New Barnsley Drive.

''He was a young man, 22 years of age; and he was a quiet, private individual.

''He was close to his family and helped Hugh and Teresa out in the family catering business in the city centre.

''Pearse was also a volunteer in the IRA.

''Like many young people of his generation, he joined Oglaigh na hEireann.

''On 25th November 1992 Pearse was driving down the Falls Road.

''He drove down past the place where we now stand -

he passed Andersonstown RUC barracks.

''As he travelled down the road, alongside the cemetery, the car he was driving was rammed.

''He'd been ambushed.

''2 unmarked vehicles with undercover RUC members inside had driven into his car. From the barracks which was here, other RUC members looked on.

''Pearse stumbled out of the car, out onto the Falls road, dazed and unarmed. He held his hands in the air.

''The RUC members approached him and shot him in the back 3 times.

''There was no warning issued.

''As they have done so many times, the RUC misinformation campaign swung into action.

''They said they had discovered a bomb making factory in this area. They said the car contained a bomb and they said there was a gun in the car.

''These were all lies.

''No-one from the RUC or British government has ever admitted that. No-one has ever been held to account for their involvement in that killing. No-one has apologised.

''Since then, his parents have struggled with dignity for 16 years to assert their right to know what happened.

''Pearse's father, Hugh, immediately called for a public inquiry. With no inquiry, the Jordan family have asserted their right to an inquest, a very modest demand.

''Since Pearse was killed, the Jordans have gone to court over 130 times in their battle for truth.

''In 2001 the case was brought, along with others to the European Court of Human Rights.

''The court ruled that the British government had failed to properly investigate the killing.

''This was a landmark human rights ruling.

''Instead of obeying it, and enabling the Jordan family to commence the inquest, further obstacles have been erected by the British government and the PSNI.

''Documents have still not been made available to the Jordan family's legal team by the PSNI.

''The identities of those in the RUC who were involved have not been revealed.

''Records of what happened have been tampered with.

''The PSNI even claim they do not know the whereabouts of former Special Branch leader, Bill Lowry, who was on the scene the night that Pearse was killed.

''And in the last month, the lawyers acting for the PSNI chief constable have gone to court to fight to prevent other papers being handed over to the Coroner and Jordan family.

''The Jordan family have fought for 16 years for the truth. To know how your son has died is surely one of the most fundamental rights any parent must have.

''Sinn Féin has used our role on the Policing Board and on the West Belfast District Policing Partnership to assert the rights of the Jordan family. Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has raised the case with the British secretary of state and with the PSNI.

''Others who have sat on Policing Boards from the start, including those in the SDLP, have acquiesced whilst the PSNI has continued to interfere with inquests.

''Sinn Féin will not permit this to happen. We will use every power and forum at our disposal to support the Jordan family in upholding their rights and we will hold to account anyone in the PSNI, or elsewhere, who attempts to subvert the Jordan family's basic right to an inquest.

''Before we go, I would encourage the people here today to continue to actively support the campaign for truth and justice for Pearse and for all the others who have been victims of British state murder.''