BID TO TAKE OMAGH BOMBING ROW TO UN
BID TO TAKE OMAGH BOMBING ROW TO UN
By Martin Breen
A ROW broke out today as the 32 County Sovereignty Movement revealed plans to oppose the handling of the Omagh bomb investigation in the United Nations.
The political grouping, which denies allegations it is linked to the Real IRA, is to protest at what it claims was government involvement in the BBC Panorama programme which named four suspects.
Relatives of some of the 29 people killed by the RIRA in the Omagh bombing have angrily attacked the move which they fear is being used to prevent anyone standing trial for the atrocity.
Joe Dillon of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement confirmed that a document has been sent to the Attorney General in the Republic claiming that the only man charged in connection with the bombing, Dundalk publican Colm Murphy, now cannot receive a fair trial.
He told the Belfast Telegraph that submissions would also be lodged in the UN citing that the British and Irish governments had breached international human rights laws of a suspect's right to a fair trial.
The group claims that the information contained on Monday's BBC Panorama programme included material taken from police files and that the governments must have backed this move.
He said: "This case will be taken up internationally. The Irish and British governments will be challenged in the United Nations.
"They have broken the International Charter on Human Rights. How can anyone receive a fair trial when material that is to be produced in court is put out on television?"
He also confirmed that membership of the group is growing and described the party as "strong".
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the Omagh bombing, said today he was in no doubt that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement will go to great lengths to prevent anyone being tried for the explosion.
He maintained, Panorama had simply named four men linked to mobile phones which were tracked from Dundalk to Omagh on the day of the Real IRA attack and who had failed to provide answers about this.
Mr Gallagher said: "This programme was not trial by media. It simply stated that people who have questions to answer about mobile phone movements were refusing to do so.
"It is interesting that they are going to use human rights laws when the human rights of people who have been murdered by these terrorist groups cannot be protected because the legislation can only be used against governments."
He also revealed that the bereaved families would be meeting next week to finalise whether or not to go ahead with civil actions against those named in the BBC programme.
By Martin Breen
A ROW broke out today as the 32 County Sovereignty Movement revealed plans to oppose the handling of the Omagh bomb investigation in the United Nations.
The political grouping, which denies allegations it is linked to the Real IRA, is to protest at what it claims was government involvement in the BBC Panorama programme which named four suspects.
Relatives of some of the 29 people killed by the RIRA in the Omagh bombing have angrily attacked the move which they fear is being used to prevent anyone standing trial for the atrocity.
Joe Dillon of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement confirmed that a document has been sent to the Attorney General in the Republic claiming that the only man charged in connection with the bombing, Dundalk publican Colm Murphy, now cannot receive a fair trial.
He told the Belfast Telegraph that submissions would also be lodged in the UN citing that the British and Irish governments had breached international human rights laws of a suspect's right to a fair trial.
The group claims that the information contained on Monday's BBC Panorama programme included material taken from police files and that the governments must have backed this move.
He said: "This case will be taken up internationally. The Irish and British governments will be challenged in the United Nations.
"They have broken the International Charter on Human Rights. How can anyone receive a fair trial when material that is to be produced in court is put out on television?"
He also confirmed that membership of the group is growing and described the party as "strong".
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan died in the Omagh bombing, said today he was in no doubt that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement will go to great lengths to prevent anyone being tried for the explosion.
He maintained, Panorama had simply named four men linked to mobile phones which were tracked from Dundalk to Omagh on the day of the Real IRA attack and who had failed to provide answers about this.
Mr Gallagher said: "This programme was not trial by media. It simply stated that people who have questions to answer about mobile phone movements were refusing to do so.
"It is interesting that they are going to use human rights laws when the human rights of people who have been murdered by these terrorist groups cannot be protected because the legislation can only be used against governments."
He also revealed that the bereaved families would be meeting next week to finalise whether or not to go ahead with civil actions against those named in the BBC programme.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0610
Published Date: 14-Oct-00
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