VILLAGERS IN SILENT PROTEST OVER DEATHS
Villagers in silent protest over deaths
HUNDREDS of people in the home town of the couple linked to the political grouping that lends support to the Real IRA have defiantly held a vigil in solidarity with victims of the Omagh bombing.
The pretty seaside village of Blackrock, near Dundalk, came to a standstill as men, women and children lit candles and stood in silence.
It had been expected they would march to the home of Michael McKevitt and his partner Bernadette Sands McKevitt, sister of IRA hungerstriker Bobby Sands and member of the dissident 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
But, in the event, those taking part in the vigil said they did not want to "resort to vigilantism" and they settled for a silent show of solidarity on the seafront.
A spokeswoman for the vigil, who wanted to be known only as Una, said people in the area were upset at being associated with the bombing.
But she said: "Perhaps it was inevitable." She refused to make any further comment.
Dundalk peace worker Joan Brady said: "There may be undesirables living in the area, but there are those of us who would prefer it if they didn't live here.
"But it would be a bit like vigilantism to go up to somebody's house who has not been proved 100% guilty."
Another woman, who also did not want to be named, added: "We just wanted to show our solidarity with the people of Omagh. I don't have words to describe the people who did this.
"The people of Dundalk don't want this, all we want is peace and we want people to know that."
HUNDREDS of people in the home town of the couple linked to the political grouping that lends support to the Real IRA have defiantly held a vigil in solidarity with victims of the Omagh bombing.
The pretty seaside village of Blackrock, near Dundalk, came to a standstill as men, women and children lit candles and stood in silence.
It had been expected they would march to the home of Michael McKevitt and his partner Bernadette Sands McKevitt, sister of IRA hungerstriker Bobby Sands and member of the dissident 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
But, in the event, those taking part in the vigil said they did not want to "resort to vigilantism" and they settled for a silent show of solidarity on the seafront.
A spokeswoman for the vigil, who wanted to be known only as Una, said people in the area were upset at being associated with the bombing.
But she said: "Perhaps it was inevitable." She refused to make any further comment.
Dundalk peace worker Joan Brady said: "There may be undesirables living in the area, but there are those of us who would prefer it if they didn't live here.
"But it would be a bit like vigilantism to go up to somebody's house who has not been proved 100% guilty."
Another woman, who also did not want to be named, added: "We just wanted to show our solidarity with the people of Omagh. I don't have words to describe the people who did this.
"The people of Dundalk don't want this, all we want is peace and we want people to know that."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0102
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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