MacBride principles sabotaged by MI5 spy Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit "Edmond J. \(skip\) O'Neill" "Ireland_List" Sat, 22 May 1999 07:15:56 -0400 MacBride Principles - targeted by MI5 spy By Brendan Anderson A BRITISH intelligence agent used his embassy job to oppose the MacBride Principles on fair employment, an Irish-American human rights activist claimed yesterday. Father Sean McManus, president of the Washington-based Irish National Caucus, said the agent, in his role as a British embassy official, had access to senior United States politicians. The former Fermanagh priest has now demanded an explanation from the British government on why it was allegedly spying on a friendly nations affairs. Extreme embarrassment was caused to the government in recent weeks when its intelligence officers, operating in dozens of countries across the world, were exposed. The man accused by Fr McManus is one of 150 alleged MI5 agents named on the internet. His name cannot now be published because the breach of security on the web is the subject of a British government censorship D-notice. Fr McManus said the agent had been involved in directing a campaign against the MacBride Principles in the US "from 1987 to at least 1992". "The alleged spy was very much involved. He spoke publicly, attended hearings on MacBride, lobbied public officials and accompanied anti-MacBride witnesses from Northern Ireland whom the British government brought to the US to lobby against the MacBride Principles. "What was this alleged MI6 agent doing opposing legislation - on a state and congressional level - of a friendly government like the US?" he asked. Meanwhile Fr McManus has congratulated US politician Senator John Burton for his role in having the MacBride Principles passed through the Californian state senate. The bill now goes before the state assembly where it is also expected to pass. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytire-05.26.99-11:12:57-18268