LORD FITT IN CALL TO TURN IN BOMBERS
Lord Fitt in call to turn in bombers
By Michael O'Toole
FORMER SDLP leader Lord Fitt yesterday urged the mainstream IRA to turn in the dissident republicans behind the Omagh outrage.
Speaking in the town as he attended the funeral of bomb victim Julia Hughes, Lord Fitt said it was time details of the Real IRA were given to the authorities by the provisionals.
But he said the Real IRA -made up mostly of one time provisionals - would not have been able to make the Omagh bomb if they had not first learned explosives skills in their time in the mainstream movement.
Lord Fitt attended four funerals yesterday and three the day before.
His wife Anne, who died last year, was from Omagh and he was a regular visitor there in the past.
Lord Fitt said: "It makes me sick when I hear the Real IRA -what arrogance.
"The people who let off these bombs were taught their skills in the provisional IRA.
"They must know them, the leadership of the provisional IRA must know who these people are because they taught them how to make bombs.
"Any human being who has any red blood flowing in his veins should turn these people in."
But he said that, even if the bombers were caught, nothing would bring back the victims. He said: "If they were hanged 50 times over, it still wouldn't be justice.
"There is no such thing as justice for this. Nothing will compensate for the heartbreak that has been brought to this town."
He also said he feared it would be years before the town of Omagh would recover from the horror of the bomb.
By Michael O'Toole
FORMER SDLP leader Lord Fitt yesterday urged the mainstream IRA to turn in the dissident republicans behind the Omagh outrage.
Speaking in the town as he attended the funeral of bomb victim Julia Hughes, Lord Fitt said it was time details of the Real IRA were given to the authorities by the provisionals.
But he said the Real IRA -made up mostly of one time provisionals - would not have been able to make the Omagh bomb if they had not first learned explosives skills in their time in the mainstream movement.
Lord Fitt attended four funerals yesterday and three the day before.
His wife Anne, who died last year, was from Omagh and he was a regular visitor there in the past.
Lord Fitt said: "It makes me sick when I hear the Real IRA -what arrogance.
"The people who let off these bombs were taught their skills in the provisional IRA.
"They must know them, the leadership of the provisional IRA must know who these people are because they taught them how to make bombs.
"Any human being who has any red blood flowing in his veins should turn these people in."
But he said that, even if the bombers were caught, nothing would bring back the victims. He said: "If they were hanged 50 times over, it still wouldn't be justice.
"There is no such thing as justice for this. Nothing will compensate for the heartbreak that has been brought to this town."
He also said he feared it would be years before the town of Omagh would recover from the horror of the bomb.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0129
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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