II/199

Adding insult to injury
By DAVID McKITTRICK

THE so-called Real IRA last night claimed responsibility for Saturday's bombing atrocity, which killed 28 people and injured 200 more in Omagh, Co Tyrone.
To add insult to injury, the group apologised for causing the casualties, saying the large car-bomb had been aimed at a commercial target rather than at taking life.
The statement follows calls from Sinn Fein saying those responsible for the devastating explosion should admit that they were involved. The statement was telephoned to the Dublin office of Belfast's Irish News newspaper by a caller using a recognised codeword.
THREE WARNINGS
It read: "This is about the explosion. This is Oglaigh na hEireann (IRA). There were three warnings and there were 40 minutes warning on each of them two to UTV and one to the Samaritans in Coleraine. Each time this was made clear and people talked back.
"The location was 300 to 400 yards from the courthouse on the main street. At no time was it said it was near the courthouse. It was a commercial target. Despite media reports it was not our intention at any time to kill any civilians.
"It was a commercial target, part of an ongoing war against the Brits. We offer apologies to the civilians.''
Mo Mowlam, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, condemned the statement as a "pathetic attempt to apologise for and excuse mass murder.'' She said Real IRA members were "murderers pure and simple'' and people would have "absolute contempt'' for their apology.
Mr Seamus Mallon, the North's Deputy First Minister, said the statement of admission was so callous and pathetic it scarcely deserved a reply.
"It is an attempt to excuse the inexcusable,'' Mr Mallon said.
"Murder can never be excused or justified. The people of Northern Ireland will treat the statement and its authors with the contempt they deserve,'' the SDLP deputy leader added.
DISMISSED CLAIM
The Government dismissed out of hand the Real IRA's claim that it had not intended civilian casualties.
Placing bombs in a busy town always carried the risk of major casualties, a Government spokesman said after the breakaway group admitted it placed the bomb.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had identified the Real IRA as the culprits within 24 hours of the blast. He attributed it to "the Real IRA, 32 County Sovereignty Committee or whatever they called themselves.''
A Government spokesman said that the Real IRA's explanations and excuses were cold comfort to the bereaved and injured.
"These disclaimers provide neither justification nor extenuation for the atrocity.''
The spokesman asked what did the Real IRA expect when they put a bomb in a market town to coincide with Saturday afternoon shopping.
Fine Gael last night rejected the apology.
"The admission of responsibility to the atrocity and the apology offered by the so-called Real IRA was grossly offensive,'' said party spokesman on Northern Ireland Charlie Flanagan.
"The only apology that would be acceptable would be a clear declaration that their war is over. These murderers and their supporters, as members of the proscribed Oglaigh na hÉireann must be brought to justice,'' he said.
FURTHER OFFENCE
Mr Flanagan said the apology added further offence and insult to the bereaved and the victims. "Their excuse to the relatives, colleagues and friends of those who died and were injured must only strengthen the resolve of all those committed to the democratic process.''
He said there was a clear duty on Gerry Adams and on Sinn Fein "to prove with appropriate deeds that they have crossed the bridge from militant violent nationalism to constitutional nationalism once and for all.''
The Real IRA, a breakaway from the mainstream IRA organisation, had emerged as the prime suspects for the attack within hours of the bombing on Saturday. As the days passed the authorities became satisfied that the bomb was planted by the group.
NO REAL SURPRISE
The statement therefore contained nothing of real surprise to the security forces on both sides of the border.
The Real IRA is said to consist of fewer than 100 activists, most of them based on the southern side of the border. Its members are thought to be concentrated in and around the town of Dundalk in Co Louth.
The debate continues in political circles and elsewhere as to whether the Omagh attack was deliberately intended to take life. Those who believe it was not point out that in the wake of the killings the group has become "red-hot'' in that it is completely isolated.