DON'T GIVE UP HUNT FOR KILLER, SAYS FATHER
Don't give up hunt for killers, says father
By Desmond McCartan
GERRY Adams and other republicans should heed public calls to help to track down the Omagh bombers, Law and Order Minister Adam Ingram said today. He responded to a demand by Victor Barker, whose son James died in the 1998 outrage, for Peter Mandelson to challenge the Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams about his attitude. Mr Barker, who has discussed the issues with Tony Blair, said he had no criticism of the efforts by the RUC and the Gardai in "meticulously" investigating the murders. But he declared: "There are a number of issues that I have asked the Northern Ireland Office to consider. "The most important at this juncture, I feel, is what efforts can be made by the Office and, in particular, by the Secretary of State to put pressure on Mr Gerry Adams and the republican movement to encourage people to come forward to assist, the RUC or the Gardai in their inquiries. "That's a request which we have made to Mr Adams and his response has been that he will not do so, because he has no faith in the justice system of Northern Ireland."
He believed Mr Mandelson "could do something to publicly challenge Mr Adams over his stance, in my view, somebody that seeks justice for his own followers...yet seeks to deny it to others."
Citing the Bloody Sunday tribunal, Mr Barker said that the attitude of Mr Adams was "morally hypocritical" - and he and Martin McGuinness should be asked to explain. He conceded that it was a question of hard evidence, adding that the police could get further help from "the undercover security forces". Mr Barker said he and other relatives of the victims felt that republican hard-liners, such as the 32 County Sovereignty movement, should not be allowed to continue fund-raising. Everyone with "a modicum of sense" knew that the money would end up in the coffers of terrorists like the Real IRA. Mr Ingram, echoing the call by the British and Irish for more information, said his thoughts were with Mr Barker and the other relatives of the Omagh victims.
"There is no question at all that both governments are determined to bring those who carry out these acts to justice.
"That's why the two prime ministers have issued their statement today, calling for anyone who has fresh information to bring that forward."
The minister said that challenge was there for everyone who had any information.
"I think this morning we should listen to the appeal from people like Victor Barker and other families."
When it was pointed out that the RUC had identified 56 people involved in the attack and yet only one man had been charged, Mr Ingram said the statement from both prime ministers showed a determination that information should be given.
"At the end of the day, we have to get evidence to bring people to justice and we will continue to demand that information be brought forward where it exists. "We ask people to reflect what is in their minds and listen to the tragedies that have been recounted by the families, the grief and the hurt that exists."
By Desmond McCartan
GERRY Adams and other republicans should heed public calls to help to track down the Omagh bombers, Law and Order Minister Adam Ingram said today. He responded to a demand by Victor Barker, whose son James died in the 1998 outrage, for Peter Mandelson to challenge the Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams about his attitude. Mr Barker, who has discussed the issues with Tony Blair, said he had no criticism of the efforts by the RUC and the Gardai in "meticulously" investigating the murders. But he declared: "There are a number of issues that I have asked the Northern Ireland Office to consider. "The most important at this juncture, I feel, is what efforts can be made by the Office and, in particular, by the Secretary of State to put pressure on Mr Gerry Adams and the republican movement to encourage people to come forward to assist, the RUC or the Gardai in their inquiries. "That's a request which we have made to Mr Adams and his response has been that he will not do so, because he has no faith in the justice system of Northern Ireland."
He believed Mr Mandelson "could do something to publicly challenge Mr Adams over his stance, in my view, somebody that seeks justice for his own followers...yet seeks to deny it to others."
Citing the Bloody Sunday tribunal, Mr Barker said that the attitude of Mr Adams was "morally hypocritical" - and he and Martin McGuinness should be asked to explain. He conceded that it was a question of hard evidence, adding that the police could get further help from "the undercover security forces". Mr Barker said he and other relatives of the victims felt that republican hard-liners, such as the 32 County Sovereignty movement, should not be allowed to continue fund-raising. Everyone with "a modicum of sense" knew that the money would end up in the coffers of terrorists like the Real IRA. Mr Ingram, echoing the call by the British and Irish for more information, said his thoughts were with Mr Barker and the other relatives of the Omagh victims.
"There is no question at all that both governments are determined to bring those who carry out these acts to justice.
"That's why the two prime ministers have issued their statement today, calling for anyone who has fresh information to bring that forward."
The minister said that challenge was there for everyone who had any information.
"I think this morning we should listen to the appeal from people like Victor Barker and other families."
When it was pointed out that the RUC had identified 56 people involved in the attack and yet only one man had been charged, Mr Ingram said the statement from both prime ministers showed a determination that information should be given.
"At the end of the day, we have to get evidence to bring people to justice and we will continue to demand that information be brought forward where it exists. "We ask people to reflect what is in their minds and listen to the tragedies that have been recounted by the families, the grief and the hurt that exists."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0749
Published Date: 15-Aug-00
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