OMAGH RELATIVES URGE JOINT APPEAL BY PMS
Omagh relatives urge joint appeal by PMs
By Ciaran McGuigan
RELATIVES of the victims of the Omagh bomb today urged the prime ministers of Britain and Ireland to press ahead with plans for a joint appeal for information on the second anniversary of the atrocity. Almost two years after the bomb ripped through the Tyrone town, killing 29 people, only one person faces charges. Major police investigations on both sides of the border have identified people believed to have been behind the attack - but have not been able to unearth evidence to bring them to court.
The families now want the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair to go ahead with the unprecedented joint appeal mooted earlier this year. They believe the high profile move may provide fresh leads in the investigation, which appears to have ground to a halt.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian died in the blast, said: "It's very important that the focus is kept on this and that it is not allowed to fade away in the distance like so many of the atrocities that have hit Northern Ireland.
"And it's especially important that the Taoiseach and Prime Minister remain committed because these people (the Real IRA) are still operating and continuing to carry out their evil intent in both Ireland and Britain."
Both the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach are currently on holiday. A spokesman for the Taoiseach said that no plans were in place to go ahead with the appeal but that it was still a possibility. The families of victims are still waiting for news of the RUC review of the investigation, announced by Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan at Easter. And they were "disturbed" by recent newspaper reports that the focus of the investigation-which centred on suspects in the Dundalk area - may have been misplaced.
According to the reports, up to 20 of the people involved in carrying out the attack live in the Omagh area.
By Ciaran McGuigan
RELATIVES of the victims of the Omagh bomb today urged the prime ministers of Britain and Ireland to press ahead with plans for a joint appeal for information on the second anniversary of the atrocity. Almost two years after the bomb ripped through the Tyrone town, killing 29 people, only one person faces charges. Major police investigations on both sides of the border have identified people believed to have been behind the attack - but have not been able to unearth evidence to bring them to court.
The families now want the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair to go ahead with the unprecedented joint appeal mooted earlier this year. They believe the high profile move may provide fresh leads in the investigation, which appears to have ground to a halt.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Adrian died in the blast, said: "It's very important that the focus is kept on this and that it is not allowed to fade away in the distance like so many of the atrocities that have hit Northern Ireland.
"And it's especially important that the Taoiseach and Prime Minister remain committed because these people (the Real IRA) are still operating and continuing to carry out their evil intent in both Ireland and Britain."
Both the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach are currently on holiday. A spokesman for the Taoiseach said that no plans were in place to go ahead with the appeal but that it was still a possibility. The families of victims are still waiting for news of the RUC review of the investigation, announced by Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan at Easter. And they were "disturbed" by recent newspaper reports that the focus of the investigation-which centred on suspects in the Dundalk area - may have been misplaced.
According to the reports, up to 20 of the people involved in carrying out the attack live in the Omagh area.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0747
Published Date: 09-Aug-00
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