32 COUNTY TO SELL PAPER IN OMAGH
32 County' to sell paper in Omagh
By Michael O'Toole Dublin Correspondent and Jonathan Turner
THE group linked to the Real IRA is to press ahead with plans to publish the second edition of its newsletter - and could even be selling it in Omagh.
Meanwhile 12 people arrested by detectives investigating the Omagh bombing were still being questioned last night after morning raids on both sides of the border.
There was speculation last night that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement's news-sheet could soon be for sale in the stricken town.
The first edition of the group's publication - the Sovereign Nation -was launched just one day before the Omagh tragedy and there had been reports that it would be wound up after the atrocity.
But yesterday sources within the organisation confirmed the second edition would be published within a fortnight, insisting it would be sold throughout Ireland.
They also refused to rule out selling it in Omagh and revealed an internet edition was being planned.
The movement has been consistently linked to the Real IRA, a charge it has just as consistently denied.
Yesterday a source said: "What happened in Omagh was a terrible tragedy and there will most likely be an objective piece about it.
"But having said that, we are a legitimate group and we are not going away, despite what others would like.
"And bringing out the Sovereign Nation in the next couple of weeks is a necessary part of our expansion plan.
"We have been relatively quiet since Omagh and we did not go out to exploit it politically, unlike others.
"We are still the only real opposition to the Stormont deal.
"I do not know where it is going to be sold - wherever we have sellers we will sell it.
"And if we get sellers in Omagh we will sell it there."
Omagh District Council chairman, Sinn Fein member Sean Clarke yesterday predicted that nobody would want to sell the paper in Omagh but defended its right to be published.
He said: "I am sure people will not be too pleased, and they probably won't get anybody to sell it.
"But they are still entitled to try and sell their paper."
Local DUP councillor Oliver Gibson, who lost niece Esther Gibson in the explosion, said many republicans in the area were still sympathetic to the sovereignty movement and the Real IRA.
But he added: "I do not want people selling that sort of diatribe in Omagh.
"And I think a majority of Catholics as well as unionists don't want it to be sold here either.
"What we really want is time to continue with grieving and get on with rebuilding the town."
Yesterday the RUC arrested six people in south Armagh, while gardai detained six suspects in County Monaghan. The men were all being questioned about the bomb attack.
It is understood the men arrested in Co Monaghan were being questioned about the theft of the car used in the attack, which was stolen in the area. The security forces believe the bomb itself was assembled in south Armagh.
By Michael O'Toole Dublin Correspondent and Jonathan Turner
THE group linked to the Real IRA is to press ahead with plans to publish the second edition of its newsletter - and could even be selling it in Omagh.
Meanwhile 12 people arrested by detectives investigating the Omagh bombing were still being questioned last night after morning raids on both sides of the border.
There was speculation last night that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement's news-sheet could soon be for sale in the stricken town.
The first edition of the group's publication - the Sovereign Nation -was launched just one day before the Omagh tragedy and there had been reports that it would be wound up after the atrocity.
But yesterday sources within the organisation confirmed the second edition would be published within a fortnight, insisting it would be sold throughout Ireland.
They also refused to rule out selling it in Omagh and revealed an internet edition was being planned.
The movement has been consistently linked to the Real IRA, a charge it has just as consistently denied.
Yesterday a source said: "What happened in Omagh was a terrible tragedy and there will most likely be an objective piece about it.
"But having said that, we are a legitimate group and we are not going away, despite what others would like.
"And bringing out the Sovereign Nation in the next couple of weeks is a necessary part of our expansion plan.
"We have been relatively quiet since Omagh and we did not go out to exploit it politically, unlike others.
"We are still the only real opposition to the Stormont deal.
"I do not know where it is going to be sold - wherever we have sellers we will sell it.
"And if we get sellers in Omagh we will sell it there."
Omagh District Council chairman, Sinn Fein member Sean Clarke yesterday predicted that nobody would want to sell the paper in Omagh but defended its right to be published.
He said: "I am sure people will not be too pleased, and they probably won't get anybody to sell it.
"But they are still entitled to try and sell their paper."
Local DUP councillor Oliver Gibson, who lost niece Esther Gibson in the explosion, said many republicans in the area were still sympathetic to the sovereignty movement and the Real IRA.
But he added: "I do not want people selling that sort of diatribe in Omagh.
"And I think a majority of Catholics as well as unionists don't want it to be sold here either.
"What we really want is time to continue with grieving and get on with rebuilding the town."
Yesterday the RUC arrested six people in south Armagh, while gardai detained six suspects in County Monaghan. The men were all being questioned about the bomb attack.
It is understood the men arrested in Co Monaghan were being questioned about the theft of the car used in the attack, which was stolen in the area. The security forces believe the bomb itself was assembled in south Armagh.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0397
Published Date: 22-Sep-98
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