Clinton Supports McAllister

Irish Voice:

MALACHY McAllister is a Northern Ireland native who is in limbo in the U.S. at present. He fled Northern Ireland after being involved with the INLA, and for years has fought his deportation battle in the U.S. with the help of the Irish American community.

He attended the Irish American fundraiser for Senator Hillary Clinton last week and spoke publicly for several minutes about his case to President Bill Clinton.

Clinton listened sympathetically and stated that his view was that McAllister, similar to many other combatants on every side in Northern Ireland, should have his case resolved in his favor now that the war was over.

He specifically noted that America should not lag behind Ireland and Britain, which have resolved many such cases in favor of the former paramilitaries. Clinton asked for specifics on this case to be sent to him and Senator Clinton in order to pursue it.

The Belfast Telegraph, however, reported the encounter in a manner that has had many shaking their heads. They reported that Clinton refused to help and was hostile to the McAllister request. Nothing could have been further from the truth as the 100 or so in attendance at the fundraiser can bear witness to.

It was after all, Clinton who ensured that many former paramilitaries were allowed to stay here during the peace process. McAllister, unfortunately, was not among them as his case had not come up at that time.

The Belfast Telegraph, it seems, is outraged that the war is over, that peace has broken out and that people like McAllister now have a shot at a decent life in the U.S. Their reporting was scandalous on this occasion.

It wouldn't be the first time that the Belfast Telegraph engaged in shoddy journalism.