Congressman Chris Smith, Republican chairman of a House Sub-Committee on International Human Rights, reporting on a fact-finding mission to Northern Ireland, said his "most disappointing" discussions were with the head of the RUC, Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan, and the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Carswell.
"Both men," he declared, "head up departments, police and judiciary respectively, which had been severely criticised by human rights groups the world over.
"Both men remained in a state of denial, refusing to admit that human rights abuses take place in their agencies. It was easy to see why so few in the Catholic community have any confidence in the ability of the police or judiciary to make meaningful reforms on their own. The reforms in these departments will have to come from external pressures and sources."
The sub-committee hearing on "Human Rights and the Peace Process in Northern Ireland" was opened by Congressman Benjamin Gilman, chairman of the Committee on International Relations. He said "the United States has taken the lead most recently in the important area of reconciliation. The goal of these hearings is to provide peaceful solutions for the problems of Northern Ireland".
Congressman Gilman said: "Seven Irish nationals facing harsh and unfair deportation back to the North recently had their immigration and naturalisation deportation proceedings suspended. The Irish Government just provided early release for six IRA men in the South, serving time for illegal cross-border activities.
"The question which now needs to be asked is when will the British government step up to the plate in this area of reconciliation and human rights reform? For example, it is time for announcing the end of the use of plastic bullets by the security forces, especially now that we have a ceasefire."
The first of these congressional hearings was held by the full committee on international relations on June 24th, at which representatives of Amnesty International and Northern Ireland bodies testified.
Congressman Smith said the main purpose of his visit to Northern Ireland, which followed the first hearings, "was to spotlight the abuses there so that eliminating them will become a central component of any peace agreement".
Those testifying on Thursday included Ms Jane Winter, director of British Irish Rights Watch, who said: "During the past 27 years of conflict in Northern Ireland", violations of human rights have been a persistent feature "as flashpoints for violence and distrust, and have undermined the rule of law, as the controversy surrounding parades and marches has visibly demonstrated".