REAL IRA HALTS VIOLENCE
Real IRA halts violence
By Michael O'Toole and Stephen O'Reilly
EXCLUSIVE
THE group which killed 28 people in Omagh dramatically announced that "all military operations had been suspended" late last night.
In a coded statement to the Irish News the Real IRA which had earlier claimed responsibility for the bombing said it was halting its campaign of violence to embark on a "process of consultation on our future direction".
The announcement was immediately welcomed by the Irish government. A spokeswoman said: "This is a response to the pressure that we have put on."
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had earlier given all dissident Republican groups until later today to call ceasefires.
It remains to be seen whether the Real IRA move - which came into effect at midnight - turns into a permanent ceasefire.
The development came just hours before 16 more Omagh bomb victims were due to be buried.
Released to the Irish News using a recognised code word at 11.35 last night the statement read: "As a direct result of the Omagh tragedy and also in response to the appeals of Bertie Ahern and others we are currently embarking on a process of consultation on our future direction.
"In the meantime all military operations have been suspended from 12 midnight."
When asked how long the consultation process would last before a final decision was made the spokesman said "there is no timeframe"
He again voiced the Real IRA's "regret" at the 28 deaths in the Omagh outrage and said it had "never intended" for civilians to be killed in the attack.
The spokesman refused to answer any more questions.
It was the second statement issued by the organisation in 24 hours and came as a surprise since the first showed no sign of any suspension or ceasefire.
In that statement the group, while expressing regret, maintained that the bomb was "part of the ongoing war against the Brits".
Then yesterday evening, Mr Ahern gave his 24-hour ultimatum to two republican political organisations believed to be linked with violent dissidents.
Mr Ahern had said those organisations should make their position clear.
He welcomed an earlier statement by the IRSP that "armed struggle" could no longer be justified. And he called on the INLA to end its campaign of violence.
The taoiseach said Republican Sinn Fein and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement should follow suit, making similar calls on the dissident groups believed to be attached to them.
It is believed the Real IRA was formed after hardline IRA members failed in a bid to have the July 1997 ceasefire overturned in October last year.
A former quartermaster general of the provisionals, based in Co Louth, is understood to have set up the group which claims to be the true inheritors of the republican tradition.
They have been responsible for a number of bomb attacks, especially in the past two months, which have caused millions of pounds of damage in Banbridge, Portadown, Newtownhamilton, Markethill and Moira. There have also been a number of incendiary attacks.
The only recorded gun attack carried out by the group was a shooting outside Lurgan police station.
Before the Omagh outrage the Real IRA was believed to have been gaining ground within mainstream republicanism with increasing numbers of recruits.
If the INLA follow the advice of their political wing, the IRSP, it would leave only the Continuity IRA not on some sort of cessation.
Meanwhile detectives investigating the Omagh bombing have appealed for anyone who has videotapes or photographs of the area before or after the explosion to contact them on 01662 244159.
By Michael O'Toole and Stephen O'Reilly
EXCLUSIVE
THE group which killed 28 people in Omagh dramatically announced that "all military operations had been suspended" late last night.
In a coded statement to the Irish News the Real IRA which had earlier claimed responsibility for the bombing said it was halting its campaign of violence to embark on a "process of consultation on our future direction".
The announcement was immediately welcomed by the Irish government. A spokeswoman said: "This is a response to the pressure that we have put on."
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern had earlier given all dissident Republican groups until later today to call ceasefires.
It remains to be seen whether the Real IRA move - which came into effect at midnight - turns into a permanent ceasefire.
The development came just hours before 16 more Omagh bomb victims were due to be buried.
Released to the Irish News using a recognised code word at 11.35 last night the statement read: "As a direct result of the Omagh tragedy and also in response to the appeals of Bertie Ahern and others we are currently embarking on a process of consultation on our future direction.
"In the meantime all military operations have been suspended from 12 midnight."
When asked how long the consultation process would last before a final decision was made the spokesman said "there is no timeframe"
He again voiced the Real IRA's "regret" at the 28 deaths in the Omagh outrage and said it had "never intended" for civilians to be killed in the attack.
The spokesman refused to answer any more questions.
It was the second statement issued by the organisation in 24 hours and came as a surprise since the first showed no sign of any suspension or ceasefire.
In that statement the group, while expressing regret, maintained that the bomb was "part of the ongoing war against the Brits".
Then yesterday evening, Mr Ahern gave his 24-hour ultimatum to two republican political organisations believed to be linked with violent dissidents.
Mr Ahern had said those organisations should make their position clear.
He welcomed an earlier statement by the IRSP that "armed struggle" could no longer be justified. And he called on the INLA to end its campaign of violence.
The taoiseach said Republican Sinn Fein and the 32 County Sovereignty Movement should follow suit, making similar calls on the dissident groups believed to be attached to them.
It is believed the Real IRA was formed after hardline IRA members failed in a bid to have the July 1997 ceasefire overturned in October last year.
A former quartermaster general of the provisionals, based in Co Louth, is understood to have set up the group which claims to be the true inheritors of the republican tradition.
They have been responsible for a number of bomb attacks, especially in the past two months, which have caused millions of pounds of damage in Banbridge, Portadown, Newtownhamilton, Markethill and Moira. There have also been a number of incendiary attacks.
The only recorded gun attack carried out by the group was a shooting outside Lurgan police station.
Before the Omagh outrage the Real IRA was believed to have been gaining ground within mainstream republicanism with increasing numbers of recruits.
If the INLA follow the advice of their political wing, the IRSP, it would leave only the Continuity IRA not on some sort of cessation.
Meanwhile detectives investigating the Omagh bombing have appealed for anyone who has videotapes or photographs of the area before or after the explosion to contact them on 01662 244159.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0052
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.