NEW YORK: A special message from IRA prisoner Joc Doherty was read out at a well-attended salute to the two attorneys of nine years standing Stephen Somerstein and Mary Pike. The occasion also heard the announcement of the winding-up of the Joe Doherty Committee which had campaigned for Dohertys release since 1986

The message which was read by Sean Mackin to the 200 people who attended the function at the New York County Lawyers Association building in Lower Manhattan praised the legal representation that the lawyers had provided in the nearly nine years that they represented him.

“Their personal sacrifices are well documented but not always recognized and appreciated”

Doherty wrote. “I am pleased that so many supporters and friends have gathered to pay tribute to these underpaid and struggling lawyers. People know too well the vast amount of time and energy that went into this almost decade of legal work” he added.

Pointing to the legal battles that they fought together over the years Doherty said that “People must recognize that] was not extradited at the end of the day that court after court over those years refused the British that extradition. The Supreme Court that paved the way for my return to Belfast did not adjudicate or rule on the merits of my argument for political asylum or on the merits of the British extradition request” he added

Dohertys mother Maurecn travelled from Belfast for the event and also paid tribute to the dedication of the two attorneys. Also present for the salute were Democratic Senate front runner Geraldine Ferraro Jack Healey Executive Director of Amnesty International (USA) Morton Stavis founder of the Center for Constitutional Rights former U N. Commissioner Paul O’Dwyer and Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger.

The crowd gave an especially warm welcome to Dr.Gurcharan Singh a prominent member of New Yorks Sikh community and a noted human rights activist. Dr.Gurcharan Singh is also a supporter of Ranjit Singh Gill and Sukhminder Sandhu Singh both clients of Somerstein and Pike whose extradition the Indian government have sought since 1987. Both men have been incarcerated in the U.S. without bail since then and are presently being held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan (Irish Voice)

Article extracted from this publication >> July 3, 1992