OMAGH ATROCITY REMEMBERED
Omagh atrocity remembered
By Ben Lowry
THE fifth anniversary of the worst single atrocity in Northern Ireland - the bomb blast that ripped through Omagh on a Saturday afternoon was being marked today by relatives at a ceremony near the site of the attack.
NIO minister Jane Kennedy was due to represent Tony Blair at this afternoon's memorial service in the Tyrone town.
A representative of the Republic's government was also due to attending the event, after Dublin's initial failure to send anyone upset many of the relatives of the 29 dead and more than 200 who were injured.
Michael Gallagher, spokesman for the Omagh Victims' Group, said that the Taoiseach's office had "relented".
"Originally they sent us a note saying simply that Bertie Ahern was on holiday. But after media pressure they have decided to send up Noel Ahern to represent the government."
No-one has been caught for the bombing, despite the fact that all of those suspected of involvement are known to detectives.
The Chief Constable Hugh Orde was not expected to make any statement today.
Speaking ahead of the service, a PSNI spokesman said: "We are disappointed that we have arrived at the fifth anniversary without a successful prosecution, but this is still very much a live investigation."
This afternoon's ceremony is at the Remembrance Garden, near to where the car bomb exploded.
By Ben Lowry
THE fifth anniversary of the worst single atrocity in Northern Ireland - the bomb blast that ripped through Omagh on a Saturday afternoon was being marked today by relatives at a ceremony near the site of the attack.
NIO minister Jane Kennedy was due to represent Tony Blair at this afternoon's memorial service in the Tyrone town.
A representative of the Republic's government was also due to attending the event, after Dublin's initial failure to send anyone upset many of the relatives of the 29 dead and more than 200 who were injured.
Michael Gallagher, spokesman for the Omagh Victims' Group, said that the Taoiseach's office had "relented".
"Originally they sent us a note saying simply that Bertie Ahern was on holiday. But after media pressure they have decided to send up Noel Ahern to represent the government."
No-one has been caught for the bombing, despite the fact that all of those suspected of involvement are known to detectives.
The Chief Constable Hugh Orde was not expected to make any statement today.
Speaking ahead of the service, a PSNI spokesman said: "We are disappointed that we have arrived at the fifth anniversary without a successful prosecution, but this is still very much a live investigation."
This afternoon's ceremony is at the Remembrance Garden, near to where the car bomb exploded.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0904
Published Date: 15-Aug-03
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