CLINTON ALTERS VISIT TO INCLUDE OMAGH FAMILIES
Clinton alters visit to include Omagh families
By CHRIS GLENNON and SUSAN GARRATY
PRESIDENT Bill Clinton has changed the schedule of his Irish visit so he can go to Omagh, scene of the most horrendous bombing in 30 years of strife on the North.
His move is intended to signal that those who try to stop the peace process through violence will not succeed, declared White House deputy press secretary Barry Toiv yesterday.
The US leader saw his visit to the bomb-ravaged town as a way of showing his continued support for the Good Friday peace pact.
Also, the president wanted to express "sympathy and condolence'' to the people of the town where 28 people, including a woman seven months pregnant with twins, were killed in the 500lb blast.
More than 200 people were hospitalised with injuries making it the worst bomb outrage since 26 people died in the Dublin bombing of May 1974. Mr Clinton will fly into Belfast from Moscow on Thursday next and after a round of meetings with political leaders will travel by helicopter to Omagh.
He will arrive in Dublin late that night and is scheduled to have talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Government ministers and other political leaders the following day before departing for the south-west.
He will stay overnight at Adare Manor before a long-promised golf match at one of the world's most famous links, Ballybunion. Former Tanaiste Dick Spring was involved in setting up that match, twice postponed.
The four-ball has yet to be completed but its likely Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy will be part of it.
White House officials said there was no hesitancy in adding Omagh to the president's already crammed schedule. Declared one official: "It was instinctive for Mr Clinton to want to go but we wanted to be very careful not to add any additional burden to the people there.''
White House staff took the decision to go to Omagh after consultation at various levels in the North. "You can be certain the president will meet with some of the families. However, there hasn't been any final decision,'' said one official.
Mr Clinton's wife, Hillary, will accompany him on the Moscow and Ireland visits, it was confirmed in Washington.
It is expected President Clinton will be made a Freeman of Limerick during his visit here early next month.
His itinerary has yet to be confirmed but its understood he will visit the city for two hours on Saturday morning, September 5. Once his visit to the city is confirmed, an emergency meeting of the City Council will be held to decide on offering him the Freedom of the City.
Meanwhile the city's corporation confirmed City Hall will serve as operations base for the 1,000 press corps accompanying Mr Clinton.
By CHRIS GLENNON and SUSAN GARRATY
PRESIDENT Bill Clinton has changed the schedule of his Irish visit so he can go to Omagh, scene of the most horrendous bombing in 30 years of strife on the North.
His move is intended to signal that those who try to stop the peace process through violence will not succeed, declared White House deputy press secretary Barry Toiv yesterday.
The US leader saw his visit to the bomb-ravaged town as a way of showing his continued support for the Good Friday peace pact.
Also, the president wanted to express "sympathy and condolence'' to the people of the town where 28 people, including a woman seven months pregnant with twins, were killed in the 500lb blast.
More than 200 people were hospitalised with injuries making it the worst bomb outrage since 26 people died in the Dublin bombing of May 1974. Mr Clinton will fly into Belfast from Moscow on Thursday next and after a round of meetings with political leaders will travel by helicopter to Omagh.
He will arrive in Dublin late that night and is scheduled to have talks with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Government ministers and other political leaders the following day before departing for the south-west.
He will stay overnight at Adare Manor before a long-promised golf match at one of the world's most famous links, Ballybunion. Former Tanaiste Dick Spring was involved in setting up that match, twice postponed.
The four-ball has yet to be completed but its likely Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy will be part of it.
White House officials said there was no hesitancy in adding Omagh to the president's already crammed schedule. Declared one official: "It was instinctive for Mr Clinton to want to go but we wanted to be very careful not to add any additional burden to the people there.''
White House staff took the decision to go to Omagh after consultation at various levels in the North. "You can be certain the president will meet with some of the families. However, there hasn't been any final decision,'' said one official.
Mr Clinton's wife, Hillary, will accompany him on the Moscow and Ireland visits, it was confirmed in Washington.
It is expected President Clinton will be made a Freeman of Limerick during his visit here early next month.
His itinerary has yet to be confirmed but its understood he will visit the city for two hours on Saturday morning, September 5. Once his visit to the city is confirmed, an emergency meeting of the City Council will be held to decide on offering him the Freedom of the City.
Meanwhile the city's corporation confirmed City Hall will serve as operations base for the 1,000 press corps accompanying Mr Clinton.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/120
Published Date: 27-Aug-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.