AHERN MEETS OMAGH BOMB FAMILIES
Ahern meets Omagh bomb families
By Michael McHugh
THE Taoiseach was embarking today on a whirlwind tour of the province which will see him visit the Omagh bomb site and deliver a keynote speech on the peace process.
Bertie Ahern meets SDLP leader Mark Durkan in Londonderry this morning and delivers the major lecture of his one-day visit at lunchtime in Coleraine at the University of Ulster's Science Innovation Centre.
He will continue by helicopter to Omagh and Belfast where he will visit council leaders and community groups.
The Republic's Premier meets bereaved relatives of the Omagh bomb and council and business leaders in the town this afternoon.
A lobby group headed by Michael Gallagher will not be represented. Omagh District Council chairman Allan Rainey will welcome Mr Ahern at the bomb site in the centre of the town.
"It is not our intention to dwell on the bomb but it has been part of our history and I know there is still a great deal of hurt," he said.
"We will go on to the community house which was built on the site of the bomb for all the various groups and children from all the schools in the area will meet him.
"We will see the memorial garden to the victims of the bomb where people from various sections of the community will meet him and then Mr Ahern will attend a symbolic short meeting in the council offices before going into private discussions with victims of the bomb."
The chairman said it was especially significant that Mr Ahern was travelling to Omagh in the midst of his Presidency of the European Parliament. The main group representing victims of the bomb will be in Dublin meeting the Republic's Opposition leader Enda Kenny.
They believe talks on offer today with the Taoiseach are not substantive.
After leaving Omagh Mr Ahern will travel to Belfast to meet Lord Mayor Martin Morgan.
The Premier's speech at the Science Innovation Centre in Coleraine's University of Ulster will outline progress in the peace process and cross-border developments, possibly involving education, the economy and technology among others.
Michael Gallagher from the Omagh Victims Selfhelp Group said he was still demanding sit down talks with the Taoiseach.
By Michael McHugh
THE Taoiseach was embarking today on a whirlwind tour of the province which will see him visit the Omagh bomb site and deliver a keynote speech on the peace process.
Bertie Ahern meets SDLP leader Mark Durkan in Londonderry this morning and delivers the major lecture of his one-day visit at lunchtime in Coleraine at the University of Ulster's Science Innovation Centre.
He will continue by helicopter to Omagh and Belfast where he will visit council leaders and community groups.
The Republic's Premier meets bereaved relatives of the Omagh bomb and council and business leaders in the town this afternoon.
A lobby group headed by Michael Gallagher will not be represented. Omagh District Council chairman Allan Rainey will welcome Mr Ahern at the bomb site in the centre of the town.
"It is not our intention to dwell on the bomb but it has been part of our history and I know there is still a great deal of hurt," he said.
"We will go on to the community house which was built on the site of the bomb for all the various groups and children from all the schools in the area will meet him.
"We will see the memorial garden to the victims of the bomb where people from various sections of the community will meet him and then Mr Ahern will attend a symbolic short meeting in the council offices before going into private discussions with victims of the bomb."
The chairman said it was especially significant that Mr Ahern was travelling to Omagh in the midst of his Presidency of the European Parliament. The main group representing victims of the bomb will be in Dublin meeting the Republic's Opposition leader Enda Kenny.
They believe talks on offer today with the Taoiseach are not substantive.
After leaving Omagh Mr Ahern will travel to Belfast to meet Lord Mayor Martin Morgan.
The Premier's speech at the Science Innovation Centre in Coleraine's University of Ulster will outline progress in the peace process and cross-border developments, possibly involving education, the economy and technology among others.
Michael Gallagher from the Omagh Victims Selfhelp Group said he was still demanding sit down talks with the Taoiseach.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0919
Published Date: 19-Feb-04
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