OMAGH IS THE PRICE OF APPEASEMENT
Omagh is the price of appeasement
AFTER the mass murder of innocent civilians in Omagh on Saturday, the one aspect I found more nauseating than any other was the assurances given by Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish Republic counterpart that the psychopaths who perpetrated this barbaric deed would be relentlessly hunted down and brought to justice.
These assurances come from the same men whose governments are bending over backwards to placate and appease convicted murderers, allowing them early release from prison, allowing their murderous gangs to retain their deadly arsenal of weapons and explosives, and allowing their blood-stained political apologists to become involved in the future government of Northern Ireland.
If Sinn Fein/IRA had been forced to decommission their illegal arsenal prior to their admittance into the political arena, then what took place on Saturday, need never have happened.
The blood-thirsty fiends who visited Omagh, most probably once followed the leadership of McGuinness and Adams: the faction of the IRA they now represent is largely irrelevant.
Prime Minister Blair must realise that Sinn Fein/IRA can no longer be bought off with concession after concession.
If he values our British democratic system of government, he must now get off his knees, insist on the total decommissioning of all paramilitary groupings, and stop the premature release of convicted murderers.
If he fails to do this, then, sadly, there will be many more atrocities carried out in the name of Irish unity, in the months and years ahead.
Dr Brian M Maxwell
Leader of Portsmouth Loyal Orange Lodge No 11;
Leader of Portsmouth District Loyal Orange Lodge No 65;
Loyal Orange Institution of England
AFTER the mass murder of innocent civilians in Omagh on Saturday, the one aspect I found more nauseating than any other was the assurances given by Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish Republic counterpart that the psychopaths who perpetrated this barbaric deed would be relentlessly hunted down and brought to justice.
These assurances come from the same men whose governments are bending over backwards to placate and appease convicted murderers, allowing them early release from prison, allowing their murderous gangs to retain their deadly arsenal of weapons and explosives, and allowing their blood-stained political apologists to become involved in the future government of Northern Ireland.
If Sinn Fein/IRA had been forced to decommission their illegal arsenal prior to their admittance into the political arena, then what took place on Saturday, need never have happened.
The blood-thirsty fiends who visited Omagh, most probably once followed the leadership of McGuinness and Adams: the faction of the IRA they now represent is largely irrelevant.
Prime Minister Blair must realise that Sinn Fein/IRA can no longer be bought off with concession after concession.
If he values our British democratic system of government, he must now get off his knees, insist on the total decommissioning of all paramilitary groupings, and stop the premature release of convicted murderers.
If he fails to do this, then, sadly, there will be many more atrocities carried out in the name of Irish unity, in the months and years ahead.
Dr Brian M Maxwell
Leader of Portsmouth Loyal Orange Lodge No 11;
Leader of Portsmouth District Loyal Orange Lodge No 65;
Loyal Orange Institution of England
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0157
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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