OMAGH VICTIMS' ANGER AT POLITICAL FAILURE
Omagh victims' anger at political failure
By Enda McClafferty
ULSTER'S political leaders were today accused of "rubbing salt in the wounds" of those injured and bereaved in the Omagh bomb.
They also came under fire for reneging on a promise made to the people of the Tyrone town in the wake of the August 15 blast.
"What happened at Stormont was unforgivable, it was a shambles and an insult to all of those who lost their lives in the bomb," explained Micheal Gallagher, whose son Adrian was among the 29 victims.
"They brought us to within touching distance of a lasting peace and then stood idly by as it crumbled before our very eyes.
"All their promises that Omagh would be the last atrocity and that Northern Ireland had turned a corner have proved worthless. It has taken us 3,000 deaths to get this far, how many more will it take before we get peace?."
Mr Gallagher's outburst came as efforts got underway today to salvage what remained of the Good Friday Agreement.
But as the key players tried hard to remain upbeat, Mr Gallagher said the mood in Omagh was extremely pessimistic.
"It is obvious that attitudes have hardened in some parties and there is a real danger that the whole process will become entrenched again," he said. "We moved forward inch by inch over the past four years and in the space of a few hours we jumped back to the start."
His frustration was shared by Suzanne Kelly, who lost part of her leg in the Real IRA explosion.
"I can't believe that after all that pain and suffering nothing has changed. We are right back where we started from the only difference is that the death toll has risen," she said.
Her mother Chris, who was blinded in one eye and suffered extensive leg injuries, added:"The politicians behaved like children in a creche which was unforgivable given what was at stake."
However, local Presbyterian minister Robert Herron said he was not surprised by the events of the past few days.
"Given the signals that were coming from David Trimble and the Ulster Unionist camp over the past few weeks, it was obvious their position had hardened," he said. "David Trimble was in an impossible position. If he had of accepted the proposals it would have led to his own demise and would also have signalled the end of moderate unionism."
By Enda McClafferty
ULSTER'S political leaders were today accused of "rubbing salt in the wounds" of those injured and bereaved in the Omagh bomb.
They also came under fire for reneging on a promise made to the people of the Tyrone town in the wake of the August 15 blast.
"What happened at Stormont was unforgivable, it was a shambles and an insult to all of those who lost their lives in the bomb," explained Micheal Gallagher, whose son Adrian was among the 29 victims.
"They brought us to within touching distance of a lasting peace and then stood idly by as it crumbled before our very eyes.
"All their promises that Omagh would be the last atrocity and that Northern Ireland had turned a corner have proved worthless. It has taken us 3,000 deaths to get this far, how many more will it take before we get peace?."
Mr Gallagher's outburst came as efforts got underway today to salvage what remained of the Good Friday Agreement.
But as the key players tried hard to remain upbeat, Mr Gallagher said the mood in Omagh was extremely pessimistic.
"It is obvious that attitudes have hardened in some parties and there is a real danger that the whole process will become entrenched again," he said. "We moved forward inch by inch over the past four years and in the space of a few hours we jumped back to the start."
His frustration was shared by Suzanne Kelly, who lost part of her leg in the Real IRA explosion.
"I can't believe that after all that pain and suffering nothing has changed. We are right back where we started from the only difference is that the death toll has risen," she said.
Her mother Chris, who was blinded in one eye and suffered extensive leg injuries, added:"The politicians behaved like children in a creche which was unforgivable given what was at stake."
However, local Presbyterian minister Robert Herron said he was not surprised by the events of the past few days.
"Given the signals that were coming from David Trimble and the Ulster Unionist camp over the past few weeks, it was obvious their position had hardened," he said. "David Trimble was in an impossible position. If he had of accepted the proposals it would have led to his own demise and would also have signalled the end of moderate unionism."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0882
Published Date: 17-Jul-99
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