Pat Finucane Centre - 29 October 2004
For some months the PFC has sought to oppose the awarding of a private security contract in Iraq to a company run by a former officer in the Scots Guards Regiment, Lt Col Tim Spicer. The US Government contract, worth $293 million, tasks London based Aegis Defence Services with the co-ordination of all private security work in Iraq for the foreseeable future. In 1992 soldiers under the command of Lt Col Spicer murdered Belfast teenager Peter Mc Bride. Spicer, their CO, subsequently lied about the circumstances of the murder, sought to blame the victim and argued that his soldiers should never have been convicted. He is a particularly unsuitable individual to be put in charge of what is essentially a large private army. On leaving the British Army Spicer set up a mercenary company, Sandline, which became embroiled in illegal activities in Papua New Guinea and Sierra Leone. Close associates have recently been jailed for mercenary activities in Africa.
Many people in the US have been horrified that such a controversial contract should be awarded to an individual who has stated that soldiers under his command who commit murder should not be subject to the rule of law. Jean Mc Bride, mother of Peter said,
“Given the involvement of private security firms in torture and murder in Iraq I shudder to think that Spicer has been awarded a contract to create the world’s largest private army.”
In September the PFC contacted Susan Davis, President of the Washington based Irish American Republicans (IAR). Among its goals the organisation lists;
To support and encourage peace and prosperity on the island of Ireland;
To educate policy makers on issues of importance and concern;
The executive branch of IAR includes; President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Secretaries Colin Powell and Tom Ridge.
IAR clearly perceives itself to be an organisation with influence and therefore in a position to “educate policy makers on issues of importance and concern.” Despite numerous emails and faxes Susan Davis has not seen fit to even reply or acknowledge our request that IAR lobby the administration on this issue of importance and concern. Given the complete wall of silence that has greeted all attempts to persuade IAR to take up this issue we can only surmise that IAR either supports this contract or does not regard it as an issue of importance and concern. Supporters of the Mc Bride family should take the matter up with Susan Davis, President of IAR, at
Email irisham@irishrepub.org Tel Wash.DC 202- 408-0808 Fax 202-408-1231
The PFC would be interested in any responses that supporters elicit from IAR since we have been unable to do so.