The mother of a dissident republican killed in Belfast last month will call for an independent inquiry into the shooting when she pickets a Manhattan fundraiser for the Sinn Fein leader, Mr Gerry Adams, today. Ms Margaret O'Connor, whose son Joseph (26) was shot by masked men in front of her Ballymurphy home on October 13th, plans to hold a candlelight vigil outside the Sheraton New York Hotel where Mr Adams will host a fundraising dinner.
More than 1,000 guests are expected to attend the $500-a-plate dinner organised by the US group, Friends of Sinn Fein.
In an interview in New York, Ms O'Connor said she hoped to lobby US leaders to pressure Mr Adams to agree to an "independent community inquiry". Mr O'Connor's family believe he was shot to death by the Provisional IRA because of his membership of the "Real IRA".
Although the Provisional IRA has denied any involvement in the O'Connor killing, his mother said other family members had recognised the gunmen as being from a local Provisional IRA unit.
Ms O'Connor said her family had been threatened and harassed because of her son's opposition to the Good Friday accord and an inquiry would help affirm people's right to hold different views.
"Nobody wants to have a feud. We just want the truth," she said.