WE HAD NO PART IN BOMB SAYS MCKEVITT
We had no part in bomb says McKevitt
By Michael Devine
A LEADING Co Armagh republican who has been linked to the group which lends political support to the Real IRA has denied any involvement in the Omagh bombing.
Michael McKevitt (49), partner of Bernadette Sands, a founder member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, and sister of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, told a Catholic priest he had "neither hand, act or part in this thing".
The couple have been living in Blackrock, near Dundalk. with their three children for some time.
They were believed to be in hiding today following a number of threats. A retail outlet run by Ms Sands in a Dundalk shopping centre has been closed.
Three bunches of flowers tied with black ribbons were pushed through the shutters at the closed shop yesterday evening.
Fr Desmond Campbell, of Blackrock, said he received a telephone call from Ms Sands after he referred at Mass to the chief suspect for the Omagh bombing being widely believed to be from the parish.
He said: "She broke down crying. She said "we are terribly upset by what is taking place", and she started to cry.
"She said "It is my children, I am frightened out of my life that they will do something to my three children because they (local people) are supposed to be converging here on the home and I am worried sick about my three children.""
Fr Campbell said Mr McKevitt came on the phone after his partner broke down.
The priest said: "He was tougher about it than she would have been, he didn't break down or anything like that.
"What he did say. and I find it hard to disbelieve him - I won't say I believe him - he said he had neither hand, act or part in this thing.
"He said the first thing that he knew about it was when he was listening to the news on Saturday evening and it came on."
Fr Campbell said Mr McKevitt told him: "At a personal level you know that I am a republican but I had nothing whatsoever to do with it, nor did I know anything was going to happen, and I want to make that very very clear.
"They are going to march on the house apparently and my partner is very upset about it, but I want you to know that I had nothing whatsoever to do with it.'"
By Michael Devine
A LEADING Co Armagh republican who has been linked to the group which lends political support to the Real IRA has denied any involvement in the Omagh bombing.
Michael McKevitt (49), partner of Bernadette Sands, a founder member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, and sister of IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands, told a Catholic priest he had "neither hand, act or part in this thing".
The couple have been living in Blackrock, near Dundalk. with their three children for some time.
They were believed to be in hiding today following a number of threats. A retail outlet run by Ms Sands in a Dundalk shopping centre has been closed.
Three bunches of flowers tied with black ribbons were pushed through the shutters at the closed shop yesterday evening.
Fr Desmond Campbell, of Blackrock, said he received a telephone call from Ms Sands after he referred at Mass to the chief suspect for the Omagh bombing being widely believed to be from the parish.
He said: "She broke down crying. She said "we are terribly upset by what is taking place", and she started to cry.
"She said "It is my children, I am frightened out of my life that they will do something to my three children because they (local people) are supposed to be converging here on the home and I am worried sick about my three children.""
Fr Campbell said Mr McKevitt came on the phone after his partner broke down.
The priest said: "He was tougher about it than she would have been, he didn't break down or anything like that.
"What he did say. and I find it hard to disbelieve him - I won't say I believe him - he said he had neither hand, act or part in this thing.
"He said the first thing that he knew about it was when he was listening to the news on Saturday evening and it came on."
Fr Campbell said Mr McKevitt told him: "At a personal level you know that I am a republican but I had nothing whatsoever to do with it, nor did I know anything was going to happen, and I want to make that very very clear.
"They are going to march on the house apparently and my partner is very upset about it, but I want you to know that I had nothing whatsoever to do with it.'"
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0084
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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