OMAGH OUTRAGED BY REAL IRA CASH BID
Omagh Outraged by Real IRA Cash Bid
OUTRAGED families of Omagh bomb victims are planning to picket a meeting being held to raise cash for Real IRA prisoners.
The Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association is holding a fundraising event in west Belfast on August 18 - just three days after the anniversary of the massacre. The dissidents will be addressed by American lawyer Martin Galvin, who helped raise millions of pounds for republicans in the 1980s. But relatives of the 29 people who died in the bombing two years ago are furious that the meeting is being held at such a sensitive time. Spokesperson Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian, said: "People have no idea about the pain this meeting is causing -there were tears in my household when we heard about it.
"It has added to our belief that the British and Irish Governments are not doing enough to disrupt and make life difficult for these people.
"It is as if they don't realise the extent to which these people are organising.
"Some of the victims' families have discussed this meeting and we are drawing up plans to picket the event.
"We are also going to write to Peter Mandelson asking him if there is nothing that can be done.
"It appears these people can do as they please and the authorities are paralysed."
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement has consistently denied claims that it is linked to the Real IRA.
But among the prisoners supported by the IRPWA are men accused of involvement in the IRA splinter group's activities.
Supporters of the 32 CSM claim their ability to hold the meeting - publicised on its website - is another sign of growing support for them in nationalist areas. Sinn Fein refused to comment officially, but one senior republican said: "We have made it clear that this is a small grouping which does not command wide support. We do not wish to demonise people, but their timing is unfortunate."
The gathering also comes against a backdrop of growing concern at the security threat posed by the Real IRA.
The 32 CSM scored a considerable propaganda coup by winning the support of Galvin, the former head of NORAID.
The American group insisted the cash they raised went to prisoners, but security services claimed that funds found their way into the coffers of the IRA.
OUTRAGED families of Omagh bomb victims are planning to picket a meeting being held to raise cash for Real IRA prisoners.
The Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association is holding a fundraising event in west Belfast on August 18 - just three days after the anniversary of the massacre. The dissidents will be addressed by American lawyer Martin Galvin, who helped raise millions of pounds for republicans in the 1980s. But relatives of the 29 people who died in the bombing two years ago are furious that the meeting is being held at such a sensitive time. Spokesperson Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian, said: "People have no idea about the pain this meeting is causing -there were tears in my household when we heard about it.
"It has added to our belief that the British and Irish Governments are not doing enough to disrupt and make life difficult for these people.
"It is as if they don't realise the extent to which these people are organising.
"Some of the victims' families have discussed this meeting and we are drawing up plans to picket the event.
"We are also going to write to Peter Mandelson asking him if there is nothing that can be done.
"It appears these people can do as they please and the authorities are paralysed."
The 32 County Sovereignty Movement has consistently denied claims that it is linked to the Real IRA.
But among the prisoners supported by the IRPWA are men accused of involvement in the IRA splinter group's activities.
Supporters of the 32 CSM claim their ability to hold the meeting - publicised on its website - is another sign of growing support for them in nationalist areas. Sinn Fein refused to comment officially, but one senior republican said: "We have made it clear that this is a small grouping which does not command wide support. We do not wish to demonise people, but their timing is unfortunate."
The gathering also comes against a backdrop of growing concern at the security threat posed by the Real IRA.
The 32 CSM scored a considerable propaganda coup by winning the support of Galvin, the former head of NORAID.
The American group insisted the cash they raised went to prisoners, but security services claimed that funds found their way into the coffers of the IRA.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0745
Published Date: 08-Aug-00
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.