PRISONER GROUP TO DEFY OMAGH PROTESTS
Prisoner group to defy Omagh protests
By Martin Breen
A DISSIDENT republican prisoners' group today said it will hold more fundraising events. in Northern Ireland despite protests from Omagh bomb victims. The development came after last night's picket by 16 people-some carrying pictures of those killed in the Real IRA's Omagh atrocity - outside Brennan's Bar at Hannahstown in west Belfast.
They were outraged that the Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association was raising funds and that it was doing so just three days after the second anniversary of the 1998 explosion in which 29 people were killed. Many of the prisoners, whose families Benefit from the funds, were convicted of offences linked with the Real IRA. In a statement, the Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association revealed further fundraisers will be held right across Ireland. Chairperson Marion Price said: "We cannot follow the logic which portrays support for the wives and children of POWs as offensive.
"We suspect the involvement of sinister British elements in the ongoing campaign to demonise our bona fide organisation, whose sole aim is to provide support for the families of those incarcerated as a direct result of Britain's continued occupation of six counties of Ireland.
"We have held previous functions in Belfast and throughout Ireland in aid of republican prisoners' welfare and will continue to do so until the need no longer exists." Those taking part in last night's demonstration included the parents of 12-year-old victim James Barker from Buncrana, Co Donegal, and Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan was killed.
The protesters called on the British, Irish and US governments to use "all legitimate, democratic means at their disposal" against the 32 County Sovereignty movement.And they are now considering taking their protest campaign to the United States in a bid to cut funding to dissident republicans. In response to the IRPWA statement, Mr Gallagher said: "We have lost our past and our future to those who have decided to ignore the views of the people of this island.
"We are appalled at the IRPWA's suggestion that we may be anything other than those bereaved and injured as a result of the Omagh bomb.
"Many of us have been left single parents, not just for a term in prison but for eternity."The dissidents were addressed last night by American lawyer and former NORAID chief Martin Galvin, who helped raise millions of pounds for republicans in the 1980s.
By Martin Breen
A DISSIDENT republican prisoners' group today said it will hold more fundraising events. in Northern Ireland despite protests from Omagh bomb victims. The development came after last night's picket by 16 people-some carrying pictures of those killed in the Real IRA's Omagh atrocity - outside Brennan's Bar at Hannahstown in west Belfast.
They were outraged that the Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association was raising funds and that it was doing so just three days after the second anniversary of the 1998 explosion in which 29 people were killed. Many of the prisoners, whose families Benefit from the funds, were convicted of offences linked with the Real IRA. In a statement, the Irish Republican Prisoners' Welfare Association revealed further fundraisers will be held right across Ireland. Chairperson Marion Price said: "We cannot follow the logic which portrays support for the wives and children of POWs as offensive.
"We suspect the involvement of sinister British elements in the ongoing campaign to demonise our bona fide organisation, whose sole aim is to provide support for the families of those incarcerated as a direct result of Britain's continued occupation of six counties of Ireland.
"We have held previous functions in Belfast and throughout Ireland in aid of republican prisoners' welfare and will continue to do so until the need no longer exists." Those taking part in last night's demonstration included the parents of 12-year-old victim James Barker from Buncrana, Co Donegal, and Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan was killed.
The protesters called on the British, Irish and US governments to use "all legitimate, democratic means at their disposal" against the 32 County Sovereignty movement.And they are now considering taking their protest campaign to the United States in a bid to cut funding to dissident republicans. In response to the IRPWA statement, Mr Gallagher said: "We have lost our past and our future to those who have decided to ignore the views of the people of this island.
"We are appalled at the IRPWA's suggestion that we may be anything other than those bereaved and injured as a result of the Omagh bomb.
"Many of us have been left single parents, not just for a term in prison but for eternity."The dissidents were addressed last night by American lawyer and former NORAID chief Martin Galvin, who helped raise millions of pounds for republicans in the 1980s.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0755
Published Date: 19-Aug-00
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