A contract awarded to a former British Army officer to help secure post-war Iraq should be revoked, Irish-American lobbyists in Washington said yesterday.
Lieut Col Tim Spicer's firm, Aegis Defence Services Ltd, was recently awarded a $160 million contract to help secure the war-torn country.
But the decision has angered the Washington-based Irish National Caucus. It says Mr Spicer spoke in defence of the two soldiers convicted of murdering Peter McBride (18) in the New Lodge area of Belfast in 1992. Mr Spicer said he was "delighted" when Scots Guards James Fisher and Mark Wright were not dismissed from the military.
The Caucus has called on President Bush to "tear up" the contract awarded to Aegis. Caucus president Father Sean McManus wrote to Mr Bush: "This could undo any credit you gained from Irish-Americans for your support of the Irish peace process."
Father McManus said he had also written to the former First Lady and New York senator, Ms Hillary Clinton, presidential contender Mr John Kerry and Senator Edward Kennedy, appealing for support.
The contract is understood to require Aegis, of which Mr Spicer is chairman and chief executive, to provide 75 close protection teams for companies keeping oil and gas fields open and utilities up and running.
It is the biggest post-Iraq war security contract to have been awarded to date.
A representative of the Development Fund for Iraq, which awards such contracts, was unavailable for comment.
PA