CONCERNS RAISED OVER UPSURGE IN REAL IRA ACTIVITIES
Concerns raised over upsurge in Real IRA activities
BY JONATHAN McCAMBRIDGE
THE families of Omagh bomb victims have written to the Government to express their alarm over a recent upsurge in Real IRA activity.
The letter, sent to the Secretary of State Peter Hain, claims that the Real IRA's campaign of violence has "been rewarded".
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed in the no-warning strike on the Tyrone town, said he believed the Real IRA was regrouping ahead of a major new terrorist campaign.
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for a series of terror alerts and fires in Newry recently and was also blamed for leaving a bomb at a home under construction owned by UUP peer Lord Ballyedmond.
The Newry fires caused extensive damage to business premises.
In Mr Gallagher's letter to Mr Hain he states: "I am writing to raise the concerns of the Omagh Victims Group at the recent increase in terrorist activity by the RIRA and others. The fire bombing of Newry and Dungannon and the closing of cross border rail traffic."
The letter added: "Sadly both Governments failed the families after the Omagh bomb by not bringing to justice those responsible and putting this terrorist group (RIRA) out of business.
"We have no difficulty with any group organising politically, but unfortunately anti-government violence and terrorism has been rewarded in this country."
Mr Gallagher told the Belfast Telegraph that the British and Irish Governments had had the opportunity to deal with the Real IRA after the 1998 atrocity.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said: "Mr Gallagher's letter was received yesterday and the Secretary of State will respond in due course.
"Both Governments and law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border are committed to tackling terrorism.
"Those who carry out terrorist acts will be pursued with vigour."
BY JONATHAN McCAMBRIDGE
THE families of Omagh bomb victims have written to the Government to express their alarm over a recent upsurge in Real IRA activity.
The letter, sent to the Secretary of State Peter Hain, claims that the Real IRA's campaign of violence has "been rewarded".
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed in the no-warning strike on the Tyrone town, said he believed the Real IRA was regrouping ahead of a major new terrorist campaign.
The Real IRA claimed responsibility for a series of terror alerts and fires in Newry recently and was also blamed for leaving a bomb at a home under construction owned by UUP peer Lord Ballyedmond.
The Newry fires caused extensive damage to business premises.
In Mr Gallagher's letter to Mr Hain he states: "I am writing to raise the concerns of the Omagh Victims Group at the recent increase in terrorist activity by the RIRA and others. The fire bombing of Newry and Dungannon and the closing of cross border rail traffic."
The letter added: "Sadly both Governments failed the families after the Omagh bomb by not bringing to justice those responsible and putting this terrorist group (RIRA) out of business.
"We have no difficulty with any group organising politically, but unfortunately anti-government violence and terrorism has been rewarded in this country."
Mr Gallagher told the Belfast Telegraph that the British and Irish Governments had had the opportunity to deal with the Real IRA after the 1998 atrocity.
A Northern Ireland Office spokesman said: "Mr Gallagher's letter was received yesterday and the Secretary of State will respond in due course.
"Both Governments and law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border are committed to tackling terrorism.
"Those who carry out terrorist acts will be pursued with vigour."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/1011
Published Date: 01-Sep-06
Related Images
