AHERN VOWS TO CRUSH EVIL WRECKERS OF PEACE
Ahern vows to crush evil wreckers of peace
By CHRIS GLENNON Political Correspondent
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday pledged that the Government would do whatever was needed to defeat the republican dissidents who planted the Omagh bomb.
This "could mean anything,'' he said after crisis talks at Government Buildings with security advisers and top department officials.
He acknowledged internment was an option even though security advice weighed against it. Internment was last used in the North in the early 1970s and in the Republic in the 1950s.
Emphasising that a two-hour meeting had effectively ruled nothing out, the Taoiseach declared: "I am determined to take the hard and difficult decisions that require to be taken in the days ahead.''
The Government was not going to allow a small group of vicious, savage and evil people who had no respect for life to wreck the peace process, he went on.
The Taoiseach said he had no real doubt that those responsible for the Omagh carnage were linked with the 32 County Sovereignty or Real IRA "or whatever else they call themselves.''
With the Sovereignty group claiming allegiance to the memory of Bobby Sands, Mr Ahern was interpreted as trying to separate it from the most famous hunger strike martyr of the modern era.
The Taoiseach was in his office at 10.15am for a review of overnight information on the bombing. The death toll already exceeds that of the bombs in Dublin in May 1974.
He was joined by Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Liz O'Donnell and his principal adviser on the North, Dr Martin Mansergh.
Also attending the meeting were the secretaries general of his own department and justice, Paddy Teahon and Tim Dalton; Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne and Assistant Commissioner, Pat O'Toole, head of the crime and security branch.
The two-hour review covered:
* All existing intelligence information on the Real IRA and the 32 County Sovereignty group;
* Activation of sections of the Offences Against the State Acts or the Criminal Justice Acts to crush dissident republicans;
* Direct liaison with the RUC and British security services to pool information;
* Possible recall of the Dail to bring forward new legislation.
The Taoiseach directed that all available ministers should be summoned for a full Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The meeting will make the key decisions on how the Government will deal with the crisis.
The Taoiseach said he was not going to allow 100 people - possibly fewer - to thwart the will of the people on the island, the Irish and British Governments for peace.
By CHRIS GLENNON Political Correspondent
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday pledged that the Government would do whatever was needed to defeat the republican dissidents who planted the Omagh bomb.
This "could mean anything,'' he said after crisis talks at Government Buildings with security advisers and top department officials.
He acknowledged internment was an option even though security advice weighed against it. Internment was last used in the North in the early 1970s and in the Republic in the 1950s.
Emphasising that a two-hour meeting had effectively ruled nothing out, the Taoiseach declared: "I am determined to take the hard and difficult decisions that require to be taken in the days ahead.''
The Government was not going to allow a small group of vicious, savage and evil people who had no respect for life to wreck the peace process, he went on.
The Taoiseach said he had no real doubt that those responsible for the Omagh carnage were linked with the 32 County Sovereignty or Real IRA "or whatever else they call themselves.''
With the Sovereignty group claiming allegiance to the memory of Bobby Sands, Mr Ahern was interpreted as trying to separate it from the most famous hunger strike martyr of the modern era.
The Taoiseach was in his office at 10.15am for a review of overnight information on the bombing. The death toll already exceeds that of the bombs in Dublin in May 1974.
He was joined by Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Liz O'Donnell and his principal adviser on the North, Dr Martin Mansergh.
Also attending the meeting were the secretaries general of his own department and justice, Paddy Teahon and Tim Dalton; Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne and Assistant Commissioner, Pat O'Toole, head of the crime and security branch.
The two-hour review covered:
* All existing intelligence information on the Real IRA and the 32 County Sovereignty group;
* Activation of sections of the Offences Against the State Acts or the Criminal Justice Acts to crush dissident republicans;
* Direct liaison with the RUC and British security services to pool information;
* Possible recall of the Dail to bring forward new legislation.
The Taoiseach directed that all available ministers should be summoned for a full Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The meeting will make the key decisions on how the Government will deal with the crisis.
The Taoiseach said he was not going to allow 100 people - possibly fewer - to thwart the will of the people on the island, the Irish and British Governments for peace.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/022
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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