In advance of the publication of "Trócaire: Misdirected Catholic Aid from Ireland Fuels Conflict" (March 18, 2009), NGO Monitor contacted Trócaire officials for comment on the report. NGO Monitor’s goal is to promote constructive dialogue regarding NGO activity, and welcomes a useful exchange regarding these issues. 

However, Trócaire’s director Justin Kilcullen replied by labeling NGO Monitor’s work "deliberately misleading, unsubstantiated, and libelous," without providing any examples. He also threatened legal action to block criticism.

In response, NGO Monitor noted, "[i]f there is factually incorrect information in our report, we will revise our report accordingly.  Under the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of expression, however, it is our unequivocal right to publish our analysis regarding the nature of Trocaire’s activities and partnerships and the impact of these activities on the Arab-Israeli conflict."

As of publication of the report, Mr. Kilcullen has not responded.

  1. NGO Monitor’s letter to Trócaire
  2. Trócaire director Justin Kilcullen’s reply
  3. Response from NGO Monitor

1. NGO Monitor’s letter to Trócaire

March 2, 2009

Justin Kilcullen
Director
Trócaire

Dear Mr. Kilcullen,

Attached is a draft of a report by NGO Monitor entitled "Trócaire: Misdirected Catholic Aid from Ireland Fuels Conflict," analyzing Trócaire’s activities and partners in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

NGO Monitor will publish this report on March 10, 2009. Any comments would be most appreciated.

We look forward to constructive dialogue with Trócaire on the important issue of human rights in the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Sincerely,
Naftali Balanson
Managing Editor
NGO Monitor

cc: Prof. Gerald Steinberg, Executive Director of NGO Monitor
      Bishop John Kirby, Chairman of Trócaire
      Eóin Murray, Palestine Programme Officer of Trócaire

NGO Monitor (www.ngo-monitor.org) was founded to promote critical debate and accountability regarding the political activities of non-governmental organizations. We have over 12,000 subscribers, who receive our internet research reports, as well as in-depth monographs examining the funding, agendas and credibility of NGOs claiming human rights and humanitarian agendas that are active in the Arab-Israel conflict zone. NGO Monitor’s reports are quoted frequently in the press, academic publications, by NGO officials and donors, and in governmental and parliamentary discussions.
 


2. Trócaire director Justin Kilcullen’s reply

Dear Mr Balanson

We acknowledge receipt of the report by NGO Monitor entitled “Trócaire: Misdirected Catholic Aid from Ireland Fuels Conflict," and wish to register our strongest objections to your deliberate misrepresentation of our activities and partnerships in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The title and content of the aforementioned report are deliberately misleading, unsubstantiated, and libellous.

Should you proceed, we are wholly committed to rigorously defending our long-standing reputation as advocates for human rights, justice, and peace for all peoples.

Sincerely,
Justin Kilcullen

Justin Kilcullen
Director
Trocaire

Maynooth
Co. Kildare
Ireland
Tel: +353 1 6293333
 


3. Response from NGO Monitor

March 13, 2009

Re: Your March 10th email responding to NGO Monitor’s report, “Trocaire:  Misdirected Catholic Aid from Ireland Fuels Conflict”

Dear Mr. Kilcullen,

NGO Monitor’s goal is to promote constructive dialogue regarding NGO activity, and we would welcome a useful exchange regarding these issues.  We are not interested in conflict, but we will not accept threats or intimidation designed to prevent this important public discussion.

You write that our report contains “deliberate misrepresentation of our activities and partnerships in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” yet, you do not provide any specific examples.  All of the information in our report is quote-based and kept in its original context, and was taken directly from the websites of Trocaire and its partners.  In addition, NGO Monitor contacted Trocaire for more information on several of Trocaire’s activities and never received a response. 

If there is factually incorrect information in our report, we will revise our report accordingly.  Under the principles of freedom of speech and freedom of expression, however, it is our unequivocal right to publish our analysis regarding the nature of Trocaire’s activities and partnerships and the impact of these activities on the Arab-Israeli conflict. 

Again, we will be publishing the report on March 18, 2009, and if we receive specific examples of factually incorrect information in our work, we will revisit those examples and make any necessary changes.

Sincerely,

Naftali Balanson
Managing Editor
NGO Monitor

Cc: Prof. Gerald Steinberg, Executive Director, NGO Monitor
      Anne Herzberg, Legal Adviser, NGO Monitor