HUNDREDS STAGE VIGIL IN MCKEVITT TOWN
Hundreds stage vigil in McKevitt town
By MELISSA KITE
HUNDREDS of people in the hometown of the man who denies being behind the Omagh bombing last night held a vigil in solidarity with victims of the blast. The seaside village of Blackrock, near Dundalk, came to a standstill as men, women and children lit candles and stood in silence.
It had been expected they would march to the home of Michael McKevitt and his partner Bernadette Sands McKevitt amid reports of deepening local anger at the pair. But in the event, those taking part in the vigil said they did not want to "resort to vigilantism'' and they settled for a silent show of solidarity on the seafront.
A spokeswoman for the vigil, who wanted to be known only as Una, said people in the area are upset at being associated with the bombing.
But she said: "Perhaps it was inevitable.'' She refused to make any further comment.
Dundalk peace worker Joan Brady said: "There may be undesirables living in the area but there are those of us who would prefer it if they didn't live here. "But it would be a bit like vigilantism to go up to somebody's house who has not been proved 100percent guilty yet.''
Earlier, Ms Sands-McKevitt said she welcomed the 'Real IRA' cessation of operations and hoped it was permanent.
Mr McKevitt had denied he was behind the bombing after Ms Sands-McKevitt phoned a local priest saying she feared for her children.
Asked on radio if she condemned the Omagh massacre, she said: "It is condemned. We will not condone it. The loss of innocent lives could not possibly be justified. We have had to come out several times. Our chairperson Francie Mackey has condemned it. I don't agree with that violence.'' Ms Sands-McKevitt, vice-chair of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, said: "I have nothing to hide. I have absolutely nothing to flee for and I am not prepared to run away for something I did not do.''
Ms Sands-McKevitt has been denied a visa by US authorities.
A White House official said a visa waiver request by Ms Sands-McKevitt had been denied. "She was able to come here a few months ago on an old visa,'' said a Clinton administration official, "but she won't be coming back for a while.''
By MELISSA KITE
HUNDREDS of people in the hometown of the man who denies being behind the Omagh bombing last night held a vigil in solidarity with victims of the blast. The seaside village of Blackrock, near Dundalk, came to a standstill as men, women and children lit candles and stood in silence.
It had been expected they would march to the home of Michael McKevitt and his partner Bernadette Sands McKevitt amid reports of deepening local anger at the pair. But in the event, those taking part in the vigil said they did not want to "resort to vigilantism'' and they settled for a silent show of solidarity on the seafront.
A spokeswoman for the vigil, who wanted to be known only as Una, said people in the area are upset at being associated with the bombing.
But she said: "Perhaps it was inevitable.'' She refused to make any further comment.
Dundalk peace worker Joan Brady said: "There may be undesirables living in the area but there are those of us who would prefer it if they didn't live here. "But it would be a bit like vigilantism to go up to somebody's house who has not been proved 100percent guilty yet.''
Earlier, Ms Sands-McKevitt said she welcomed the 'Real IRA' cessation of operations and hoped it was permanent.
Mr McKevitt had denied he was behind the bombing after Ms Sands-McKevitt phoned a local priest saying she feared for her children.
Asked on radio if she condemned the Omagh massacre, she said: "It is condemned. We will not condone it. The loss of innocent lives could not possibly be justified. We have had to come out several times. Our chairperson Francie Mackey has condemned it. I don't agree with that violence.'' Ms Sands-McKevitt, vice-chair of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement, said: "I have nothing to hide. I have absolutely nothing to flee for and I am not prepared to run away for something I did not do.''
Ms Sands-McKevitt has been denied a visa by US authorities.
A White House official said a visa waiver request by Ms Sands-McKevitt had been denied. "She was able to come here a few months ago on an old visa,'' said a Clinton administration official, "but she won't be coming back for a while.''
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/063
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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