WALKOUT WAS JUST A STUNT
Walkout was just a stunt
By Martin Anderson
A WALKOUT by two Omagh councillors during a meeting has been dismissed as a "publicity stunt" by unionists and nationalists alike.
Labour councillor Johnny McLaughlin and Alliance councillor Ann Gormley both walked out of Tuesday night's council meeting in protest at the presence of Councillor Francis Mackey.
Mr Mackey is chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee which has been linked to the Real IRA who claimed responsibility for planting the Omagh bomb.
Mr McLaughlin said he felt unable to participate In the normal business of the council because of comments Mr Mackey made on the council building steps in the aftermath of the bomb.
He told the council: "His reprehensible behaviour, beyond any shadow of a doubt, exposed his true colours.
"The sheer hypocrisy displayed by Councillor Mackey on the steps outside these offices was downright contemptible in anyone's language.
"His failure to immediately condemn this 'slaughter of the innocence' has rendered him a political outcast and figure of scorn In the community.
"His brazen attempt to justify the unjustifiable fell on deaf ears. Even to harbour such fanaticism at this dreadful time is beyond the understanding of any right thinking human being,"
But Mr Mackey said he joined the council in condemning the bomb and said it could "not be justified under any circumstances".
"I won't be resigning," he said. "I don't think this cheap publicity stunt will help these two councillors whose action has done little, and in many ways has negated the excellent work clone by the council, traders and others to resurrect the town and alleviate the suffering of so many."
DUP councillor Oliver Gibson, whose niece Esther was killed in the Omagh bomb, said the walkout was nothing more than a publicity stunt.
He said: "They came up with the story that they were protesting at the presence of Mr Mackey and they walked out. "I felt it was a stage manage stunt of no great importance. If they were serious they would have done this long ago. It has had no effect on the council.
"I heard Mr Mackey condemn the atrocity at our meeting on August 17. There seems to have been some confusion in the media outside on the steps.
"To me, there is no difference between any brand of the IRA. They all have the same aims and that is to bomb, bullet, murder, and cause mayhem.
"Those people are objecting to one variety but they seem to be able to sit with Sinn Fein. Quite honestly, I don't see any difference."
Allan Rainey, the council's vice-chairman, said: "I was not at the meeting as I was representing the council at the fundraising football match at the Brandywell stadium but I heard about what happened from colleagues.
"As far as I am concerned the councillors involved have the right to take this individual stance but Councillor Mackey is an elected member of the council and there isn't much we can do about that.
"My attitude is that I would be willing to let time take its course. We will see the results when he goes to the polls again.
"Unless there was a united course of action I don't think it would have much impact."
By Martin Anderson
A WALKOUT by two Omagh councillors during a meeting has been dismissed as a "publicity stunt" by unionists and nationalists alike.
Labour councillor Johnny McLaughlin and Alliance councillor Ann Gormley both walked out of Tuesday night's council meeting in protest at the presence of Councillor Francis Mackey.
Mr Mackey is chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee which has been linked to the Real IRA who claimed responsibility for planting the Omagh bomb.
Mr McLaughlin said he felt unable to participate In the normal business of the council because of comments Mr Mackey made on the council building steps in the aftermath of the bomb.
He told the council: "His reprehensible behaviour, beyond any shadow of a doubt, exposed his true colours.
"The sheer hypocrisy displayed by Councillor Mackey on the steps outside these offices was downright contemptible in anyone's language.
"His failure to immediately condemn this 'slaughter of the innocence' has rendered him a political outcast and figure of scorn In the community.
"His brazen attempt to justify the unjustifiable fell on deaf ears. Even to harbour such fanaticism at this dreadful time is beyond the understanding of any right thinking human being,"
But Mr Mackey said he joined the council in condemning the bomb and said it could "not be justified under any circumstances".
"I won't be resigning," he said. "I don't think this cheap publicity stunt will help these two councillors whose action has done little, and in many ways has negated the excellent work clone by the council, traders and others to resurrect the town and alleviate the suffering of so many."
DUP councillor Oliver Gibson, whose niece Esther was killed in the Omagh bomb, said the walkout was nothing more than a publicity stunt.
He said: "They came up with the story that they were protesting at the presence of Mr Mackey and they walked out. "I felt it was a stage manage stunt of no great importance. If they were serious they would have done this long ago. It has had no effect on the council.
"I heard Mr Mackey condemn the atrocity at our meeting on August 17. There seems to have been some confusion in the media outside on the steps.
"To me, there is no difference between any brand of the IRA. They all have the same aims and that is to bomb, bullet, murder, and cause mayhem.
"Those people are objecting to one variety but they seem to be able to sit with Sinn Fein. Quite honestly, I don't see any difference."
Allan Rainey, the council's vice-chairman, said: "I was not at the meeting as I was representing the council at the fundraising football match at the Brandywell stadium but I heard about what happened from colleagues.
"As far as I am concerned the councillors involved have the right to take this individual stance but Councillor Mackey is an elected member of the council and there isn't much we can do about that.
"My attitude is that I would be willing to let time take its course. We will see the results when he goes to the polls again.
"Unless there was a united course of action I don't think it would have much impact."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0432
Published Date: 06-Oct-98
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