OMAGH DOMINATES DEBATE
Omagh dominates debate
By William Graham
Political Correspondent
Parties unite in hope bombing will be the last
ALL parties in the new Northern Ireland assembly yesterday condemned the Real IRA and Its bombing of Omagh which resulted in the deaths of 29 people.
In a special three-hour debate on the issue, unionists also told republicans that now was the right time to start IRA decommissioning.
Ulster Unionist Sir John Gorman, who has in the past spoken about Gerry Adams's leadership and discipline, said he should move on the decommissioning issue and particularly the question of IRA explosives.
He asked the republican movement - "what defensive quality has a bomb got?"
Sir John said: "Now Gerry here is the chance to show that leadership. What about a big bang to get rid of as much of it (Semtex) as you can?"
Mr Adams did not reply. Earlier. Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said that "we are here for a new beginning and we are deadly serious about the search for peace, justice and equality".
In again condemning the Omagh bombing, Mr McGuinness said those who had described themselves as republicans had set out to destroy the peace process, but all they had succeeded in doing was destroying themselves.
The debate was opened by Ulster Unionist Derek Hussey, who asked that the names of the dead be recorded in the proceedings.
Mr Hussey alleged there were those in the chamber who knew who the Omagh bombers were and who should be sharing such
knowledge with the authorities north and south. The SDLP's Joe Byrne said that revulsion to the Omagh bomb must mark a new beginning.
"I personally believe that the Omagh bomb was a defining moment in our political development, principally because so many people were killed and injured, people from throughout Tyrone, Donegal and Spain.
"What kind of patriotism is this? What kind of humanity do we have on display by bombing a crowded civilian shopping scene as that of Market Street, Omagh," Mr Byrne said.
Mr Byrne, as well as many other assembly members, praised the work of the ambulancemen and women, hospital staff, the firemen, police officers, voluntary workers and clergy.
The Reverend Ian Paisley said he had been hearing all his political life about the day when the gun would be taken out of Irish politics.
"But the gun will never be taken out of Irish politics until those people realise that the majority of the people of Northern Ireland are not going to have a united Ireland."
Mr Paisley listed all the violent events since the Good Friday agreement, including bombings, shootings, and punishment beatings and said - "some peace process".
Alliance leader Sean Neeson said Omagh was a tragedy waiting to happen as it could have happened in Banbridge or Moira.
He said that surveillance must be kept on the Real IRA so that evidence can be collected to convict them in the courts.
"I would like to see convictions rather than internment to deal with this situation. We are told that the Real IRA is on ceasefire but I am somewhat sceptical about that. The Continuity have not yet called a ceasefire. So, there is always the fear that these sort of misguided morons could commit another atrocity in the future.
"However, despite the atrocity of Omagh and the poison of sectarianism in Portadown the peace process must not be allowed to be destroyed. All of those involved in the conflict at Drumcree and Portadown should get around a table and talk," Mr Neeson said.
UKUP leader Bob McCartney said no words could adequately describe the horror of Omagh, adding: "Yet, except in terms of its scale, that outrage was little different from Oxford Street. McGurk's Bar, Enniskillen, La Mon, Teebane or the Shankill
"At this moment Provisional IRA retain all the armaments that are necessary to perpetrate a hundred Omaghs. The Real IRA were almost certainly making use of explosives and detonators formerly part of the PIRA arsenal. What distinction or difference, if any, is there between the Real IRA and Provisional IRA. There are no moral or ethical differences."
The PUP's David Ervine said that Omagh will not be forgotten: "The number of so serious injuries where people will be disfigured, left limbless, left blind - that legacy will be with us. And perhaps every time we drive through Omagh we may see someone on crutches, or someone with a guide dog.
Mr Ervine went on to praise the people of Omagh: "I heard the voices coming from Omagh, soft, determined, dignified... wanting Omagh to be the last. Whether they were on the yes side, or no side, they certainly wanted Omagh to be the last. I hope it will be the last. I sense that Omagh is a watershed."
Jane Morrice, Women's Coalition, said: "The tragedy of Omagh has had a very very profound effect on all of us, as we have heard today.
"None of us will ever forget August 15,1998."
The DUP's Oliver Gibson, whose niece was murdered at Omagh, said that Omagh had suffered before and this had been the 29th time the town was bombed. Mr Gibson held up photographs of 24 tombstones in a small graveyard outside Castlederg and said every one of these people had been victims of the IRA.
By William Graham
Political Correspondent
Parties unite in hope bombing will be the last
ALL parties in the new Northern Ireland assembly yesterday condemned the Real IRA and Its bombing of Omagh which resulted in the deaths of 29 people.
In a special three-hour debate on the issue, unionists also told republicans that now was the right time to start IRA decommissioning.
Ulster Unionist Sir John Gorman, who has in the past spoken about Gerry Adams's leadership and discipline, said he should move on the decommissioning issue and particularly the question of IRA explosives.
He asked the republican movement - "what defensive quality has a bomb got?"
Sir John said: "Now Gerry here is the chance to show that leadership. What about a big bang to get rid of as much of it (Semtex) as you can?"
Mr Adams did not reply. Earlier. Sinn Fein chief negotiator Martin McGuinness said that "we are here for a new beginning and we are deadly serious about the search for peace, justice and equality".
In again condemning the Omagh bombing, Mr McGuinness said those who had described themselves as republicans had set out to destroy the peace process, but all they had succeeded in doing was destroying themselves.
The debate was opened by Ulster Unionist Derek Hussey, who asked that the names of the dead be recorded in the proceedings.
Mr Hussey alleged there were those in the chamber who knew who the Omagh bombers were and who should be sharing such
knowledge with the authorities north and south. The SDLP's Joe Byrne said that revulsion to the Omagh bomb must mark a new beginning.
"I personally believe that the Omagh bomb was a defining moment in our political development, principally because so many people were killed and injured, people from throughout Tyrone, Donegal and Spain.
"What kind of patriotism is this? What kind of humanity do we have on display by bombing a crowded civilian shopping scene as that of Market Street, Omagh," Mr Byrne said.
Mr Byrne, as well as many other assembly members, praised the work of the ambulancemen and women, hospital staff, the firemen, police officers, voluntary workers and clergy.
The Reverend Ian Paisley said he had been hearing all his political life about the day when the gun would be taken out of Irish politics.
"But the gun will never be taken out of Irish politics until those people realise that the majority of the people of Northern Ireland are not going to have a united Ireland."
Mr Paisley listed all the violent events since the Good Friday agreement, including bombings, shootings, and punishment beatings and said - "some peace process".
Alliance leader Sean Neeson said Omagh was a tragedy waiting to happen as it could have happened in Banbridge or Moira.
He said that surveillance must be kept on the Real IRA so that evidence can be collected to convict them in the courts.
"I would like to see convictions rather than internment to deal with this situation. We are told that the Real IRA is on ceasefire but I am somewhat sceptical about that. The Continuity have not yet called a ceasefire. So, there is always the fear that these sort of misguided morons could commit another atrocity in the future.
"However, despite the atrocity of Omagh and the poison of sectarianism in Portadown the peace process must not be allowed to be destroyed. All of those involved in the conflict at Drumcree and Portadown should get around a table and talk," Mr Neeson said.
UKUP leader Bob McCartney said no words could adequately describe the horror of Omagh, adding: "Yet, except in terms of its scale, that outrage was little different from Oxford Street. McGurk's Bar, Enniskillen, La Mon, Teebane or the Shankill
"At this moment Provisional IRA retain all the armaments that are necessary to perpetrate a hundred Omaghs. The Real IRA were almost certainly making use of explosives and detonators formerly part of the PIRA arsenal. What distinction or difference, if any, is there between the Real IRA and Provisional IRA. There are no moral or ethical differences."
The PUP's David Ervine said that Omagh will not be forgotten: "The number of so serious injuries where people will be disfigured, left limbless, left blind - that legacy will be with us. And perhaps every time we drive through Omagh we may see someone on crutches, or someone with a guide dog.
Mr Ervine went on to praise the people of Omagh: "I heard the voices coming from Omagh, soft, determined, dignified... wanting Omagh to be the last. Whether they were on the yes side, or no side, they certainly wanted Omagh to be the last. I hope it will be the last. I sense that Omagh is a watershed."
Jane Morrice, Women's Coalition, said: "The tragedy of Omagh has had a very very profound effect on all of us, as we have heard today.
"None of us will ever forget August 15,1998."
The DUP's Oliver Gibson, whose niece was murdered at Omagh, said that Omagh had suffered before and this had been the 29th time the town was bombed. Mr Gibson held up photographs of 24 tombstones in a small graveyard outside Castlederg and said every one of these people had been victims of the IRA.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0231
Published Date: 16-Sep-98
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