Malachy McAllister, wife Bernie and their children Gary, Nicole and Sean are trying to seek asylum in the United States. They fled Northern Ireland in fear of their lives.
Like most republicans in the north of Ireland, the McAllister family lived daily with abuse from the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the British troops. They also lived in fear of the day when they might become the targets of a loyalist gun or bomb attacks.
The McAllister family fled Northern Ireland following an armed loyalist attack on their home in October 1988. Twenty-five shots were fired into their home, narrowly missing three of their children and Mrs. McAllister's mother, who was baby-sitting at the time. Malachy McAllister's security information was later found with the guns used in the shooting. No one has been charged. The McAllisters have reason to believe that, if deported, they would come under such attack again.
The McAllister family has been in court seeking citizenship. U.S. District Judge Henry Dogin of Newark, N.J., has ruled that Malachy McAllister is not eligible to apply for political asylum. Bernadette and the McAllister children may apply for asylum.
The McAllisters are from Northern Ireland and are recognized as British, not Irish, as they identify themselves. The judge also ruled that the INS may not contact the RUC with regards to Malachy McAllister's asylum application, but the INS has already sent an agent to meet with the RUC in Belfast.
On July 12, Judge Dogin will begin hearings on Bernadette and the children's application for political asylum and Malachy's application under the United Nations Torture Convention.
The McAllister family's lawyer Caudia Slovinsky, stated today that all of the resources the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) previously devoted to the seven families facing deportation are now being concentrated on deporting the McAllisters.
She will have to hire another law student just to work on their case. The INS has just asked the Immigration Judge for permission to go back to the RUC.
The judge ordered them to cut off all contact with the RUC after they sent an agent to Belfast to question RUC officers about Malachy. This effectively alerted the Loyalist death squads that the McAllisters may be forced to return to the North.
The INS has also filed new charges purporting to show that Malachy is a terrorist and not entitled to a hearing on political asylum.
PLEASE JOIN US!
There will be a meeting of the
McAllister Family Justice Campaign on
Tuesday, April 25th, 7 pm
At the offices of O'Dwyer & Bernstien
52 Duane Street, NYC
For more info:
Released in the US by:
McAllister Family Justice Campaign,