U.S. Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04) Saturday participated in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hamilton Township, Mercer County, N.J., to mark the rich heritage and contributions of Irish immigrants who have settled in the United States, even as he plans to chair a hearing this week on law enforcement and justice issues in Northern Ireland.

    Smith, Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (MD), will hold the hearing in Washington, D.C. Wednesday.  The hearing will look at continued calls for independent inquiries and accountability for past abuses by security services in Northern Ireland, and will examine implementation of key provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, including those relating to policing and the administration of justice in the region.

    Details of the congressional hearing: 

"Northern Ireland: Why Justice in Individual Cases Matters"

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

2:00 p.m.

210 Cannon House Office Building

The following witnesses have been invited to testify:

• John Finucane, son of Patrick Finucane, human rights lawyer murdered by loyalist paramilitaries

• Raymond McCord, father of Raymond McCord, Jr., murdered by loyalist paramilitaries

• John Teggart, son of Daniel Teggart, victim of the 1971 Ballymurphy massacre

• Ciarán McAirt, grandson of Kitty Irvine, McGurk’s Bar bombing victim

• Jane Winter, Director, British Irish Rights Watch

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The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent agency of the Federal Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 56 countries. The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.