PRESIDENT RAPS SERIAL KILLERS AFTER HORROR
President raps 'serial killers'
By FERGUS BLACK
GOVERNMENT Leaders, politicians and the Churches yesterday led a wave of national and international revulsion at the Omagh atrocity.
President Mary McAleese, who yesterday visited the scene of the bombing, said a "posse of serial killers" were on the loose and everybody was determined these people should be hunted down.
"The promise of the Good Friday agreement cannot be frustrated by those responsible for this cowardly act," said the President.
This appalling bombing must bond us all together to redouble our efforts to foster the consensus and reconciliation which so many throughout this island have been working to achieve," she added.
Government and Opposition leaders were united in their condemnation; Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described the bombing as an attack on democracy and a cruel denial of the clearly expressed wish for peace of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people.
"The Irish Government and security forces Hill give every assistance to bring those responsible to justice," he said.
"We will not be found wanting in ensuring that no organisation in our jurisdiction can continue to defy the will of the Irish people.
"Those who seek to do so will be ruthlessly suppressed," said Mr Ahern.
Fine Gael leader John Bruton called for an all-island security initiative to make the commissioning of such outrages impossible.
All those who supported the Good Friday Agreement had a bounden responsibility to help eliminate the possibility of such violent acts being committed, he said.
Democratic Left leader Proinsias de Rossa described the bombing as a "vile and horrific act of mass murder". It was essential for the two Governments to move urgently to crush the organisation responsible. SDLP leader John Hume denounced the "undiluted fascists" responsible for the blast. "It is appalling that they are trying to impose their will by murder.
"These people pretend that they are acting in the name of the people of Ireland when clearly they are the enemies of the people of Ireland as a whole."
Church leaders also expressed their horror at the death and injuries caused by the blast. Catholic Primate Archbishop Sean Brady said he was appalled, shocked and deeply saddened by this "dreadful atrocity".
Archbishop Brady said: "Those who carried out this terrible act of murder have done so with a ruthless determination to wreck the prospects for peace. They must not be allowed to succeed."
Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Hume, said that to bring such sadness and suffering to the people of Omagh was a crime against humanity.
By FERGUS BLACK
GOVERNMENT Leaders, politicians and the Churches yesterday led a wave of national and international revulsion at the Omagh atrocity.
President Mary McAleese, who yesterday visited the scene of the bombing, said a "posse of serial killers" were on the loose and everybody was determined these people should be hunted down.
"The promise of the Good Friday agreement cannot be frustrated by those responsible for this cowardly act," said the President.
This appalling bombing must bond us all together to redouble our efforts to foster the consensus and reconciliation which so many throughout this island have been working to achieve," she added.
Government and Opposition leaders were united in their condemnation; Taoiseach Bertie Ahern described the bombing as an attack on democracy and a cruel denial of the clearly expressed wish for peace of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people.
"The Irish Government and security forces Hill give every assistance to bring those responsible to justice," he said.
"We will not be found wanting in ensuring that no organisation in our jurisdiction can continue to defy the will of the Irish people.
"Those who seek to do so will be ruthlessly suppressed," said Mr Ahern.
Fine Gael leader John Bruton called for an all-island security initiative to make the commissioning of such outrages impossible.
All those who supported the Good Friday Agreement had a bounden responsibility to help eliminate the possibility of such violent acts being committed, he said.
Democratic Left leader Proinsias de Rossa described the bombing as a "vile and horrific act of mass murder". It was essential for the two Governments to move urgently to crush the organisation responsible. SDLP leader John Hume denounced the "undiluted fascists" responsible for the blast. "It is appalling that they are trying to impose their will by murder.
"These people pretend that they are acting in the name of the people of Ireland when clearly they are the enemies of the people of Ireland as a whole."
Church leaders also expressed their horror at the death and injuries caused by the blast. Catholic Primate Archbishop Sean Brady said he was appalled, shocked and deeply saddened by this "dreadful atrocity".
Archbishop Brady said: "Those who carried out this terrible act of murder have done so with a ruthless determination to wreck the prospects for peace. They must not be allowed to succeed."
Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Hume, said that to bring such sadness and suffering to the people of Omagh was a crime against humanity.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/017
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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