April 1999- following the death of Rosemary Nelson

The people of the Garvaghy Road and surrounding communities grieve for the loss of Rosemary Nelson, not only their solicitor and champion of their cause, but also a true and good friend. She was brutally and savagely murdered with calculation, and the residents of the Garvaghy Road sincerely wish peace to Paul, Gavin, Christopher and Sarah, and all of Rosemary's family, and our thoughts are constantly with them. This is a time of mourning for this community and we yet do not know the cost of the loss of our beloved Rosemary.

We call on the international community to put constant and concerted effort behind an independent and international inquiry into Rosemary's murder. There is no confidence in the RUC as either an investigative agency or a policing force, and any investigation carried out by them would not be impartial, nor would it discover the truth behind the planning of this horrific execution.

In the wake of Rosemary's murder on Monday, March 15, Catholic residents of the Garvaghy Road community faced a barrage of insults and disgusting comments from members of the Orange Order who gathered at Corcrain Orange Hall to intimidate and taunt the residents coming out of nearby shops. The remarks were offensive and hurtful, aimed mostly at disparaging the memory of Rosemary Nelson and blatantly laughing at the gruesome end of someone so dear to the Garvaghy Road residents. Members of the RUC were seen to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Orangemen, and at no time did they ever attempt to halt the horrible display. In fact, when the RUC came onto the scene, they joined in the taunts and displayed camaraderie with the Orangemen, to the horror of residents only feet away. The Orangemen stood on top of RUC landrovers and danced and jeered, one even banging a lambeg drum on top of the landrover, showing the residents that the RUC would never go against their own in the Orange Order.  To this day, Garvaghy Road residents endure cruel taunts from Orangemen and their supporters about Rosemary.

The residents of the Garvaghy Road gather strength from the hundreds of letters of support we have received from around the world since that terrible time of fear and apprehension following Rosemary's murder. It makes us feel as if we are not alone and will not have to fight for our rights to equality and freedom by ourselves. We deeply appreciate all those in the international community who continue to support our cause and who will stand by us until our children have a better life and we do not have to face the fear and intimidation that we now live under daily.