HR/99/22
16 March 1999


The following statement was issued last night by United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson:


I am shocked and saddened by the cowardly murder in Northern Ireland today of Rosemary Nelson, a courageous human rights lawyer whose life had been repeatedly threatened in the past because of her work.

The attack on Rosemary Nelson seems designed to keep the communities in Northern Ireland from achieving reconciliation and full respect for the rights of all citizens. Her death has sad echoes of the murder of Pat Finucane and comes at a particularly sensitive time in the peace process. The people of Northern Ireland must not allow this to deflect them from their determination to implement the peace agreement. Pursuing the road to peace and human rights is the greatest tribute they could pay to her memory.

I send my heartfelt condolences to Rosemary Nelson's husband and her three children. I also call on the Government to spare no effort to bring to justice those responsible for this heinous crime.