32 COUNTY MOPVEMENT CHAIRMAN REFUSES TO CONDEMN EXPLOSION
32 County movement chairman refuses to condemn explosion
By STEPHEN O'BRIEN in OMAGH
THE CHAIRMAN of the 32 County Sovereignty movement yesterday repeatedly refused to condemn the Omagh bomb blast and rejected any link between his organisation and the suspected bombers - the Real IRA.
Omagh District Councillor, Francis Mackey, confirmed that his son Shane (19) was arrested at the family home in Loughmacrory, some eight miles from Omagh, at 7am yesterday in a security forces swoop that saw five County Tyrone suspects lifted for questioning.
But he told reporters that Shane was not in any way "involved" and that every one in Omagh knew he - Councillor Mackey - had never been involved in any "military activity."
"They look for a public face like mine who has at all times come out honestly and openly and expressed the republican analysis as I perceived it" he said. "The government is demonising me and my political opinion".
He added " I don't know who planted the bomb in Omagh on Saturday. I would like to take this opportunity to lay the lie to what is being said by the Chief Constable, Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair and others who are saying the 32-Sovereignty Committee was connected to what took place in Omagh. I reject that."
But he refused to explicitly condemn the bombing, despite a statement being issued by Omagh District Council expressing the unanimous condemnation of the members at a meeting which councillor Mackey attended.
The former Sinn Fein member expressed his "heartfelt sadness" at "the disaster which took place."
"There was no justification under any circumstances for the killing of civillians" he said but added: "no amount of condemnation from me will, in any way, alleviate the suffering."
When the council passed its motion, DUP Councillor Oliver Gison whose cousin Esther died in the explosion, sat across the chamber from Councillor Mackey.
By STEPHEN O'BRIEN in OMAGH
THE CHAIRMAN of the 32 County Sovereignty movement yesterday repeatedly refused to condemn the Omagh bomb blast and rejected any link between his organisation and the suspected bombers - the Real IRA.
Omagh District Councillor, Francis Mackey, confirmed that his son Shane (19) was arrested at the family home in Loughmacrory, some eight miles from Omagh, at 7am yesterday in a security forces swoop that saw five County Tyrone suspects lifted for questioning.
But he told reporters that Shane was not in any way "involved" and that every one in Omagh knew he - Councillor Mackey - had never been involved in any "military activity."
"They look for a public face like mine who has at all times come out honestly and openly and expressed the republican analysis as I perceived it" he said. "The government is demonising me and my political opinion".
He added " I don't know who planted the bomb in Omagh on Saturday. I would like to take this opportunity to lay the lie to what is being said by the Chief Constable, Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair and others who are saying the 32-Sovereignty Committee was connected to what took place in Omagh. I reject that."
But he refused to explicitly condemn the bombing, despite a statement being issued by Omagh District Council expressing the unanimous condemnation of the members at a meeting which councillor Mackey attended.
The former Sinn Fein member expressed his "heartfelt sadness" at "the disaster which took place."
"There was no justification under any circumstances for the killing of civillians" he said but added: "no amount of condemnation from me will, in any way, alleviate the suffering."
When the council passed its motion, DUP Councillor Oliver Gison whose cousin Esther died in the explosion, sat across the chamber from Councillor Mackey.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/182
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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