AHERN RENEWS PLEDGE TO HUNT DOWN BOMBERS
Ahern renews pledge to hunt down bombers
By FERGUS BLACK
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday joined hundreds of people in signing a book of condolence for the victims of the Omagh bombing and declared the atrocity had to be the "last event.''
He revealed that those already named as suspects in news reports had "long been under the most active surveillance'' but alone were unlikely to be the people the authorities were chasing.
"We are going to continue to hunt these down in whatever way we can,'' pledged Mr Ahern who with Foreign Minister David Andrews was met by Lord Mayor of Dublin Senator Joe Doyle when he arrived at the Mansion House to sign one of the many books of condolences.
Throughout the day hundreds of people some of them very young children called to sign their names and add messages of sympathy and hope to those devastated by Saturday's blast.
Mr Ahern left no special message but simply wrote his name and added the word 'Taoiseach.'
Later, referring to the top-level meetings between Ministers and security chiefs, he said it would take some days to work out the full package of measures required to respond to events in Omagh, adding: "We have told them to present to us as soon as possible any immediate things that are required.''
Asked had there been any serious discussion about internment, the Taoiseach said all these things were being looked at.
"We have to find an effective mechanism of how we can deal with a small number of ruthless people who appear to totally ignore us.''
And he reiterated that those groups which had not yet called a ceasefire should declare their position quite quickly.
"There is no room left in society, North or South, for people to engage in this.
"And it is our obligation to the people who have died, to the relatives and to the whole peace process generally to make sure we can crush this and crush it effectively,'' added Mr Ahern.
Responding to suggestions that the public was impatient for action, he said every single measure the Garda and RUC could think of was being used.
But new ones might be required.
Both police forces had pointed out to him that after 30 years of consecutive violence of the most intense nature our legislation was probably the most repressive there was.
"But I still hold the view there might be new things, new requirements changes in tactics might be required,'' declared the Taoiseach.
Asked why people who had been named or photographed as suspects were not helping gardai with their inquiries, Mr Ahern said the best people to answer that were those dealing with organisational matters.
However, he added: "The people can take this: those who are named and who are suspects are long under the most active surveillance. They're unlikely to be the people that we are chasing, alone. We are going to continue to hunt these down in whatever way we can.''
Internment was still on our statute books, he pointed out, and the Government had to take the best advice of the security forces on how they could "end this violence.''
Added Mr Ahern: "Omagh has to be the last event and whatever is necessary to end this is what we are determined to do.''
By FERGUS BLACK
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday joined hundreds of people in signing a book of condolence for the victims of the Omagh bombing and declared the atrocity had to be the "last event.''
He revealed that those already named as suspects in news reports had "long been under the most active surveillance'' but alone were unlikely to be the people the authorities were chasing.
"We are going to continue to hunt these down in whatever way we can,'' pledged Mr Ahern who with Foreign Minister David Andrews was met by Lord Mayor of Dublin Senator Joe Doyle when he arrived at the Mansion House to sign one of the many books of condolences.
Throughout the day hundreds of people some of them very young children called to sign their names and add messages of sympathy and hope to those devastated by Saturday's blast.
Mr Ahern left no special message but simply wrote his name and added the word 'Taoiseach.'
Later, referring to the top-level meetings between Ministers and security chiefs, he said it would take some days to work out the full package of measures required to respond to events in Omagh, adding: "We have told them to present to us as soon as possible any immediate things that are required.''
Asked had there been any serious discussion about internment, the Taoiseach said all these things were being looked at.
"We have to find an effective mechanism of how we can deal with a small number of ruthless people who appear to totally ignore us.''
And he reiterated that those groups which had not yet called a ceasefire should declare their position quite quickly.
"There is no room left in society, North or South, for people to engage in this.
"And it is our obligation to the people who have died, to the relatives and to the whole peace process generally to make sure we can crush this and crush it effectively,'' added Mr Ahern.
Responding to suggestions that the public was impatient for action, he said every single measure the Garda and RUC could think of was being used.
But new ones might be required.
Both police forces had pointed out to him that after 30 years of consecutive violence of the most intense nature our legislation was probably the most repressive there was.
"But I still hold the view there might be new things, new requirements changes in tactics might be required,'' declared the Taoiseach.
Asked why people who had been named or photographed as suspects were not helping gardai with their inquiries, Mr Ahern said the best people to answer that were those dealing with organisational matters.
However, he added: "The people can take this: those who are named and who are suspects are long under the most active surveillance. They're unlikely to be the people that we are chasing, alone. We are going to continue to hunt these down in whatever way we can.''
Internment was still on our statute books, he pointed out, and the Government had to take the best advice of the security forces on how they could "end this violence.''
Added Mr Ahern: "Omagh has to be the last event and whatever is necessary to end this is what we are determined to do.''
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/039
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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