IRA TELLS BOMBERS TO DISBAND
IRA tells Omagh bombers 'You must disband now'
THE IRA has demanded the disbandment of the republican dissidents responsible for the Omagh bombing.
A spokesman said the so-called Real IRA responsible for the atrocity had "undoubtedly" damaged the republican struggle for Irish independence.
He said: "They should disband and they should do so sooner rather than later."
The bombing on Saturday August 15 claimed the lives of 28 men, women and children and injured 220.
The Real IRA - disgruntled former members of the mainstream republican movement - admitted responsibility and expressed "regret" for the loss of life and injuries. It later called a suspension of "military action" amid the public outcry over the massacre.
But in an interview with the Republican News, the IRA spokesman said: "This is not enough".
The interview was made public in advance of the paper's publication this Thursday.
The spokesman said many republicans on both sides of the Irish border had both privately and publicly made very clear their anger at the actions of those responsible for the bomb.
He expressed his organisation's sympathy with the families of those killed and injured in Omagh.
"In human terms it was a disaster of enormous proportions. No one could fail to be moved by both the suffering of the victims of the bombing and generosity of spirit of the families of those killed and injured in the explosion."
The Real IRA has been operating under the name "Oglaigh na hEireann", the official title of the Provisional IRA.
The PIRA spokesman said many republicans felt "aggrieved that the dissidents had "tarnished the name of Oglaigh na hEireann" and he added: "Many are justifiably angiy at their use of the term Real IRA.
"This grouping have done only disservice to the republican cause. They have no coherent political strategy, they are not a credible alternative to the Irish Republican Army."
The IRA suspected that the Omagh massacre and previous bomb attacks in towns across Northern Ireland were aimed at the peace process in general and Sinn Fein's strategy in particular, he said.
The interview confirmed that the dissident grouping was born out of a split which emerged at an IRA army convention, comprising "delegates elected by and representing the entire membership of Oglaigh na hEireann."
The spokesman said: "Their views on future strategy and direction were rejected by the vast majority of those delegates.
"Having failed in what was essentially a bid for leadership this small number of individuals then resigned from our organisation and, in a very deliberate. and calculated way, set about trying to undermine both the duly elected leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann and, by extension, trying to put themselves and their views in the proud tradition of 80 years of struggle."
The IRA spokesman also played down RIRA claims that large numbers of IRA members had defected to join the new group and said the claims were designed to sow confusion and dissent in IRA ranks.
"The reality is they are very few in numbers and have little or no support base, particularly in the occupied counties. They have had little impact on Oglaigh na hEireann structures.
He also said accusations that the IRA had supplied technology and materials to the dissidents were "absolutely untrue."
"Arguably, actions that this grouping have carried out have been designed and timed, not only to derail the peace process, but also specifically to damage our struggle. It is ridiculous for anyone to suggest we would assist them in that."
Planned tough new anti-terror laws being introduced by the British and Irish governments following the Omagh bombing were "a matter of concern" , he said.
The IRA still viewed the Good Friday Agreement as "a significant development", but he added: "We are, however, conscious of growing concern at the slow pace of movement".
He reiterated the IRA's refusal to decommission its weaponry, saying the position it outlined in a statement in April was unchanged.
THE IRA has demanded the disbandment of the republican dissidents responsible for the Omagh bombing.
A spokesman said the so-called Real IRA responsible for the atrocity had "undoubtedly" damaged the republican struggle for Irish independence.
He said: "They should disband and they should do so sooner rather than later."
The bombing on Saturday August 15 claimed the lives of 28 men, women and children and injured 220.
The Real IRA - disgruntled former members of the mainstream republican movement - admitted responsibility and expressed "regret" for the loss of life and injuries. It later called a suspension of "military action" amid the public outcry over the massacre.
But in an interview with the Republican News, the IRA spokesman said: "This is not enough".
The interview was made public in advance of the paper's publication this Thursday.
The spokesman said many republicans on both sides of the Irish border had both privately and publicly made very clear their anger at the actions of those responsible for the bomb.
He expressed his organisation's sympathy with the families of those killed and injured in Omagh.
"In human terms it was a disaster of enormous proportions. No one could fail to be moved by both the suffering of the victims of the bombing and generosity of spirit of the families of those killed and injured in the explosion."
The Real IRA has been operating under the name "Oglaigh na hEireann", the official title of the Provisional IRA.
The PIRA spokesman said many republicans felt "aggrieved that the dissidents had "tarnished the name of Oglaigh na hEireann" and he added: "Many are justifiably angiy at their use of the term Real IRA.
"This grouping have done only disservice to the republican cause. They have no coherent political strategy, they are not a credible alternative to the Irish Republican Army."
The IRA suspected that the Omagh massacre and previous bomb attacks in towns across Northern Ireland were aimed at the peace process in general and Sinn Fein's strategy in particular, he said.
The interview confirmed that the dissident grouping was born out of a split which emerged at an IRA army convention, comprising "delegates elected by and representing the entire membership of Oglaigh na hEireann."
The spokesman said: "Their views on future strategy and direction were rejected by the vast majority of those delegates.
"Having failed in what was essentially a bid for leadership this small number of individuals then resigned from our organisation and, in a very deliberate. and calculated way, set about trying to undermine both the duly elected leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann and, by extension, trying to put themselves and their views in the proud tradition of 80 years of struggle."
The IRA spokesman also played down RIRA claims that large numbers of IRA members had defected to join the new group and said the claims were designed to sow confusion and dissent in IRA ranks.
"The reality is they are very few in numbers and have little or no support base, particularly in the occupied counties. They have had little impact on Oglaigh na hEireann structures.
He also said accusations that the IRA had supplied technology and materials to the dissidents were "absolutely untrue."
"Arguably, actions that this grouping have carried out have been designed and timed, not only to derail the peace process, but also specifically to damage our struggle. It is ridiculous for anyone to suggest we would assist them in that."
Planned tough new anti-terror laws being introduced by the British and Irish governments following the Omagh bombing were "a matter of concern" , he said.
The IRA still viewed the Good Friday Agreement as "a significant development", but he added: "We are, however, conscious of growing concern at the slow pace of movement".
He reiterated the IRA's refusal to decommission its weaponry, saying the position it outlined in a statement in April was unchanged.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0336
Published Date: 31-Aug-98
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