Honour for father of UVF murder victim as he's appointed to world peace group

Q Radio News

The father of a loyalist murder victim has been appointed to the board of an international peace group.

The South Korea-based World Peace Prize organisation has members across the globe. 

The latest is Belfast man Raymond McCord whose son Raymond junior was killed by the UVF in 1997.

Mr. McCord joins US priest Fr. Sean McManus on a 14-strong panel of judges for the peace prize.

He's been speaking with Q Radio...

The group has issued the following statement: 

The World Peace Prize was initiated in Seoul, South Korea in 1989 by the Reverend Dr. Han Min Su, a Presbyterian Minister, who has dedicated his life to promoting world peace by bringing together East and West and representatives of all the major world religions: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Russian Orthodox and Zoroastrianism.

 Dr. Han said:" We are most pleased that Raymond McCord is joining our International-Interfaith Board  as a Judge and as a UK representative. Mr. McCord has demonstrated what one person can accomplish through dedication to justice and peace. He has been honoured by being invited to testify before the United States Congress, where he has received strong support, and where his views are regularly disseminated. And now, he honours the World Peace Prize Awarding Council by joining us in our mission of world peace."

 Mr. McCord said: "This is a huge honour and I am humbled and very grateful. It is powerful encouragement to me and my work for justice. I will strongly support the wonderful work of Reverend Dr. Han, liaising with  the Headquarters in Seoul through its Washington office, headed up by Chief Judge, Fr. Sean McManus, President, Irish National Caucus and Barbara Flaherty, Executive Vice President, Irish Nation Caucus, who is also a Judge and Corporate Manager of the World Peace Prize Awarding Council."

Fr. McManus said: " It is well known that I am a strong supporter of Raymond's long campaign for justice. I deeply believe that  reconciliation, ecuminism  and religious cooperation are at their truest and best when different religions  come together not just to talk about reconciliation but especially when they come together to work for justice. So, for example, in this case, I am proud, as a Fermanagh Catholic, to work on Capitol Hill  with Raymond, a Belfast Anglican/Protestant."