ULSTER PREPARES FOR COMMEMORATION
Ulster prepares for commemoration
OMAGH will come to halt this weekend when the market town stops to formally remember the victims of last year's bomb.
Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and Irish junior Foreign Minister Liz O'Donnell are expected to be among thousands of people attending a memorial service for the victims on Sunday.
The town will come to a standstill at 3.10pm, the time the massive car bomb exploded, killing 29 people and injuring 350.
The dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed they carried out the atrocity, which saw the biggest loss of life of any single incident in 30 years of terrorism.
Dr Mowlam, Northern Ireland Secretary, said: "Omagh reminds us of the depths of evil, savagery and murder which we all want to leave behind.
"It reminds us of he many victims who continue to suffer from the violence of the past.
"My thoughts are with the victims, the relatives and friends of he 29 who died, the injured and the community which has had to rebuild itself after one of the worst atrocities of the troubles."
The culmination of weekend of remembrance will be the main anniversary service at High Street, starting at just before 3pm on Sunday.
The council's chief executive, John McKinney, said:
"Essentially, the service is for the people of Omagh. It will not be turned into a show-piece for VIP guests but everyone who wants to pay their
respects is welcome."
A service will also be held in Buncrana, Co Donegal, home town of three young boys who died in the blast and prayers will be said for the two Spanish victims, who were on an exchange visit.
On Saturday afternoon, church bells will ring out at 3pm and a short private ceremony will be held at the bomb site in Market Street, where a temporary garden of remembrance has been created.
Only one man, Colm Murphy has so far been charged with conspiracy to cause the explosion.
Police believe up to 60 people played a role in the blast.
The hunt for the killers has involved a massive cross-border joint police operation and detectives have interviewed 4,000 people and taken statements from around 3,000.
Police have identified at least five key suspects and are determined to bring them to justice, but they say the bombers are being shielded and there are fears that the longer they remain free, the smaller the chance they will ever be convicted.
An independent review of the entire Omagh investigation is to be carried out by a senior British police officer, whose name has not yet been revealed.
The bomb inquiry will no doubt be on the agenda when Dr Mowlam meets her security advisers on Monday.
Many shops and businesses will be shut in Omagh over the weekend, and Market Street will also be closed to traffic from this evening until Monday morning.
OMAGH will come to halt this weekend when the market town stops to formally remember the victims of last year's bomb.
Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and Irish junior Foreign Minister Liz O'Donnell are expected to be among thousands of people attending a memorial service for the victims on Sunday.
The town will come to a standstill at 3.10pm, the time the massive car bomb exploded, killing 29 people and injuring 350.
The dissident republican group the Real IRA claimed they carried out the atrocity, which saw the biggest loss of life of any single incident in 30 years of terrorism.
Dr Mowlam, Northern Ireland Secretary, said: "Omagh reminds us of the depths of evil, savagery and murder which we all want to leave behind.
"It reminds us of he many victims who continue to suffer from the violence of the past.
"My thoughts are with the victims, the relatives and friends of he 29 who died, the injured and the community which has had to rebuild itself after one of the worst atrocities of the troubles."
The culmination of weekend of remembrance will be the main anniversary service at High Street, starting at just before 3pm on Sunday.
The council's chief executive, John McKinney, said:
"Essentially, the service is for the people of Omagh. It will not be turned into a show-piece for VIP guests but everyone who wants to pay their
respects is welcome."
A service will also be held in Buncrana, Co Donegal, home town of three young boys who died in the blast and prayers will be said for the two Spanish victims, who were on an exchange visit.
On Saturday afternoon, church bells will ring out at 3pm and a short private ceremony will be held at the bomb site in Market Street, where a temporary garden of remembrance has been created.
Only one man, Colm Murphy has so far been charged with conspiracy to cause the explosion.
Police believe up to 60 people played a role in the blast.
The hunt for the killers has involved a massive cross-border joint police operation and detectives have interviewed 4,000 people and taken statements from around 3,000.
Police have identified at least five key suspects and are determined to bring them to justice, but they say the bombers are being shielded and there are fears that the longer they remain free, the smaller the chance they will ever be convicted.
An independent review of the entire Omagh investigation is to be carried out by a senior British police officer, whose name has not yet been revealed.
The bomb inquiry will no doubt be on the agenda when Dr Mowlam meets her security advisers on Monday.
Many shops and businesses will be shut in Omagh over the weekend, and Market Street will also be closed to traffic from this evening until Monday morning.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0590
Published Date: 13-Aug-99
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