Thursday, November 21, 2013
Pat Finucane Portarit Presentation
Yonkers AOH Donates Prize Portrait to Aisling Center
.JPG) |
| Members of Division 1 Present Orla Kelleher with The Pat Finucane Portrait |
The members of
Division One visited The Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers today to
present the center with a beautiful portrait to be displayed in its newly
expanded facilities.
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| Pat Finucane was killed in his home on February 12, 1989 |
The portrait
is of slain civil rights attorney Patrick Finucane, who was tragically gunned
down at his home in Belfast by loyalist paramilitaries on February, 12
1989. Mr. Finucane bravely went about
his work defending republican clients even after years of death threats. His murder is still unsolved as of today, despite
efforts to bring his killers to justice.
The British Government has consistently refused calls for international
inquiry into his death. A case review
was completed in 2012, which showed there was collusion between the police and
loyalist killers. The findings forced an
apology from British Prime Minister David Cameron, but he still will not
authorize a full investigation.
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| Pat Finucane- "A Life Shattered" |
The portrait
is the creation of acclaimed Irish Artist Robert Ballagh, which shows a youthful Pat
Finucane against a canvass which has been “shattered.” Mr. Ballagh stated that his wish was to
capture the importance of this man while also conveying the violent nature of
his death.
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| The British Government has stopped all attempts to discover the truth |
Division 1
was initially presented the portrait by AOH FFAI National Chairman Sean Pender
as a thank you for the Division’s support of The Hibernian’s Freedom for All
Ireland Christmas Appeal. Held each
year, the appeal, (Which raised over $75,000 last year), raises funds for
charity organizations in the north of Ireland.
To learn more about the AOH freedom for All Ireland Christmas Appeal, please visit the AOH National Website at:
