NORTHERN Ireland Secretary Sir Patrick Mayhew yesterday hit back at

allegations of

human rights violations levelled against the security forces in

Northern Ireland by American politicians. Sir Patrick said at Question

Time that there were human rights abuses in the Province -- carried out

by terrorists pursuing their ''evil and fruitless'' campaigns. He added:

''I sometimes think if a national of a foreign country were to become

their victim -- which I would wish on no-one at all -- we would hear

more about this from overseas commentators and rather less unspecific

calumny of brave men and women in the police and the Army