BLAIR AND AHERN PLEDGE TO HUNT BOMBERS
Blair and Ahern in pledge to hunt the bombers
PRIME Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today resumed their efforts to keep the peace process on track and to hunt down the Omagh bombers.
Speaking on the steps of Stormont last night. Mr Blair and Mr Ahern were united in condemning the terrorists behind the atrocity which left 28 people dead and more than 200 injured.
Following a meeting with his Irish counterpart that lasted almost an hour, Mr Blair said: "The Taoiseach and I have met this evening. We are agreed first of all on our total shock, horror and outrage of this act of unspeakable evil that has united people everywhere in their condemnation of it.
"We know the emotions of people are those of grief and sympathy for the bereaved and the families of the victims.
"We know also of the anger people will feel.
"For our part we have agreed that the two governments will work together and do everything possible in their power to hunt down those responsible for this outrage."
RUC Chief Constable, Ronnie Flanagan, was due to meet Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne to discuss options open to them in tracking down the killers.
Mr Blair said that the heads of the police forces in the Republic and Northern Ireland will look at "all measures necessary and possible in order to deal with this tragedy."
He said both governments have an "absolute and unshakeable determination" to work for peace in Northern Ireland.
Mr Blair said: "The purpose of that bombing was to destroy the work, destroy the hope and the agreement we built up.
"Our determination has got to be that these people will never win and that democracy will triumph over evil."
Mr Ahern said he had welcomed the opportunity to have met with Mr Blair last night.
He condemned the bombing in Omagh describing it as an "evil act" in which many people were "blown apart and so many seriously injured".
He said: "I want to condemn totally and absolutely this atrocity and give the sympathy of the Irish Government to all of the families who have suffered.
Mr Ahern said those behind the bombing wanted to wreck the peace agreement.
"He described them as a "fringe minority republic organisation" who even before the Good Friday Agreement was signed attempted to ruin the document's chances of success.
He said police on both sides of the border and in the UK had been successful "many times" in thwarting the Real IRA who it is widely believed was behind the atrocity.
"Yesterday we were not successful and I think we have to consider what more we can do," he said.
PRIME Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today resumed their efforts to keep the peace process on track and to hunt down the Omagh bombers.
Speaking on the steps of Stormont last night. Mr Blair and Mr Ahern were united in condemning the terrorists behind the atrocity which left 28 people dead and more than 200 injured.
Following a meeting with his Irish counterpart that lasted almost an hour, Mr Blair said: "The Taoiseach and I have met this evening. We are agreed first of all on our total shock, horror and outrage of this act of unspeakable evil that has united people everywhere in their condemnation of it.
"We know the emotions of people are those of grief and sympathy for the bereaved and the families of the victims.
"We know also of the anger people will feel.
"For our part we have agreed that the two governments will work together and do everything possible in their power to hunt down those responsible for this outrage."
RUC Chief Constable, Ronnie Flanagan, was due to meet Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne to discuss options open to them in tracking down the killers.
Mr Blair said that the heads of the police forces in the Republic and Northern Ireland will look at "all measures necessary and possible in order to deal with this tragedy."
He said both governments have an "absolute and unshakeable determination" to work for peace in Northern Ireland.
Mr Blair said: "The purpose of that bombing was to destroy the work, destroy the hope and the agreement we built up.
"Our determination has got to be that these people will never win and that democracy will triumph over evil."
Mr Ahern said he had welcomed the opportunity to have met with Mr Blair last night.
He condemned the bombing in Omagh describing it as an "evil act" in which many people were "blown apart and so many seriously injured".
He said: "I want to condemn totally and absolutely this atrocity and give the sympathy of the Irish Government to all of the families who have suffered.
Mr Ahern said those behind the bombing wanted to wreck the peace agreement.
"He described them as a "fringe minority republic organisation" who even before the Good Friday Agreement was signed attempted to ruin the document's chances of success.
He said police on both sides of the border and in the UK had been successful "many times" in thwarting the Real IRA who it is widely believed was behind the atrocity.
"Yesterday we were not successful and I think we have to consider what more we can do," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0031
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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