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Alan McBride, la cui moglie morì nello scoppio di Shankill, nominato commissario per i Diritti Umani

IRA bomb widower in human rights body

The Secretary of State has appointed a man who lost his wife and father-in-law in an IRA bomb almost 20 years ago to sit on the Human Rights Commission in Northern Ireland.

Bomba a ShankillAlan McBride’s wife Sharon and father-in-law John Frizzell were killed in a blast at Frizzell’s Fish Shop on the Shankill Road in Belfast in 1993.

Mr McBride later met with Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, who acted as pallbearer at the bomber’s funeral.

Mr McBride, who now works for the WAVE Trauma Centre, is one of seven new commissioners appointed by the Secretary of State.

Professor Michael O’Flaherty will take up his new post as Chief Commissioner on 19 September, replacing Monica McWilliams.

The 52-year-old is Co-Director of the Human Rights Law Centre at the University of Nottingham and a vice chair of the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

Owen Paterson said the Commissioners bring “skills, understand and knowledge that will contribute greatly to the Commission’s work”.

“The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission plays an important role in protecting and promoting human rights in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“Twelve years after its establishment, the Commission continues to face a range of challenges that are changing as Northern Ireland society changes. I am confident that the new Chief Commissioner and Commissioners will help meet these challenges in a way that commands support across the community.”

Ex-PSNI Chief Inspector, Milton Kerr and former trade union chief John Corey will also sit on the Commission, joined by Grainia Long, Director of the Chartered Institute of Housing, and Christine Collins, who is Deputy Chair of the Huntington’s Disease Association of Northern Ireland.

Social worker Marion Reynolds has been appointed to the board, alongside Singapore-born Paul Yam, who was awarded an MBE for services to community relations work in Northern Ireland in 2010.

The Secretary of State also thanked the five outgoing commissioners, Colin Harvey, Geraldine Rice, Anne Hope, Thomas Duncan and Alan Henry and paid a special thanks to the outgoing Chief Commissioner, Monica McWilliams, for the work that has been completed under her leadership.

He said: “The outgoing Chief Commissioner and Commissioners have made a valuable contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in Northern Ireland.

“I am extremely grateful to them for their commitment over the last six years.”

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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