RENOUNCE VIOLENCE ONCE AND FOR ALL
RENOUNCE VIOLENCE ONCE AND FOR ALL, TRIMBLE TELLS ADAMS
By JOHN HICKS
FIRST Minister David Trimble last night called on Sinn Fein to tell the people of Northern Ireland they had given up violence forever.
He said his request was the least he could ask for in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing, which killed 28 and injured over 200 - many critically.
He said it was important to hear Sinn Fein repudiate the use of violence as a political tactic and go beyond their recent condemnation of the massacre.
He said: "I want to hear something which conveys to the people of Northern Ireland that Sinn Fein are condemning the violence on the basis that it something that they will put behind them permanently and that they are going to follow through all their responsibilities on this."
Mr Trimble was speaking on BBC and UTV - the first major interviews he has given since last Saturday's horror bombing by the Real IRA.
He said what stuck in his mind at the end of the most terrible week the province had suffered in 30 years of violence was the "truly heroic way" the people had responded.
He was greatly encouraged by the security clampdown ordered by Irish Premier Bertie Ahern and said he was confident the British government would take similar measures.
He hoped Westminster would be recalled early to pass the legislation needed to get the new laws on the statute book.
He said the bombers would never be allowed to destroy the peace process.
He added: "We hope that Northern Ireland is moving into a new era and we hope that the Agreement, embodied as it is by this Assembly which is gradually beginning to take shape here."
He said a lot of work had gone into setting up the Assembly which was due to meet on September 14.
And he believed the Omagh bombing marked a watershed.
He said "I think actually it's not the same as before. We had atrocities before, we've had responses to them before, it's been almost like a stop/go over the last 30 years on these matters.
"I think; this is different this time, because this time we have a set of institutions and a consensus within society that covers both sections of the community in Northern Ireland.
"And this gives us a better basis to go forward than ever before - and to those who despair or are thinking 'oh dear we're going back into what was the past', that's not the case.
"People I've visited, the funerals I've gone to, people I've talked to, I know that the persons responsible are marginalised and they can be dealt with if we do keep that consensus that exists in society together."
By JOHN HICKS
FIRST Minister David Trimble last night called on Sinn Fein to tell the people of Northern Ireland they had given up violence forever.
He said his request was the least he could ask for in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing, which killed 28 and injured over 200 - many critically.
He said it was important to hear Sinn Fein repudiate the use of violence as a political tactic and go beyond their recent condemnation of the massacre.
He said: "I want to hear something which conveys to the people of Northern Ireland that Sinn Fein are condemning the violence on the basis that it something that they will put behind them permanently and that they are going to follow through all their responsibilities on this."
Mr Trimble was speaking on BBC and UTV - the first major interviews he has given since last Saturday's horror bombing by the Real IRA.
He said what stuck in his mind at the end of the most terrible week the province had suffered in 30 years of violence was the "truly heroic way" the people had responded.
He was greatly encouraged by the security clampdown ordered by Irish Premier Bertie Ahern and said he was confident the British government would take similar measures.
He hoped Westminster would be recalled early to pass the legislation needed to get the new laws on the statute book.
He said the bombers would never be allowed to destroy the peace process.
He added: "We hope that Northern Ireland is moving into a new era and we hope that the Agreement, embodied as it is by this Assembly which is gradually beginning to take shape here."
He said a lot of work had gone into setting up the Assembly which was due to meet on September 14.
And he believed the Omagh bombing marked a watershed.
He said "I think actually it's not the same as before. We had atrocities before, we've had responses to them before, it's been almost like a stop/go over the last 30 years on these matters.
"I think; this is different this time, because this time we have a set of institutions and a consensus within society that covers both sections of the community in Northern Ireland.
"And this gives us a better basis to go forward than ever before - and to those who despair or are thinking 'oh dear we're going back into what was the past', that's not the case.
"People I've visited, the funerals I've gone to, people I've talked to, I know that the persons responsible are marginalised and they can be dealt with if we do keep that consensus that exists in society together."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH EXTRA
Ref: BT/0215
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
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