EFFORTS INTENSIFIED TO FORCE MACKEY OUT
Efforts intensified to force Mackey out
By Steven McCaffery
'Resign' calls renewed
EFFORTS to push 32 County chairman Francis Mackey from Omagh district council are set to intensify.
At its next full meeting the council is expected to hear a call for Mr Mackey to clarify which political organisation he represents - a move likely to be followed by demands the former Sinn Fein member resigns his seat and seeks a fresh mandate.
His close ties with the 32 County Sovereignty Movement - linked to the Real IRA the group responsible for the Omagh bomb - has led to growing anger at Mr Mackey's continuing role in public life.
Councillors in the area have also attacked his initial refusal to condemn the bombing which claimed the lives of 29 people.
Last night Mr Mackey could not be contacted, though he has already dismissed resignation calls. Though existing procedures would not allow councillors to force Mr Mackey out, the fresh calls for his resignation may attract significant cross-party support.
In a letter to the Irish News yesterday Laurence Rush - whose wife Libby was killed in the blast -pledged to "protest vigorously" against Mr Mackey's continuing role in council life.
As anger over Mr Mackey's position continues, work yesterday began on the demolition of the buildings devastated by August's bombing. It is expected to take contractors a week to clear the battered section of Market Street.
Earlier this year Mr Mackey was suspended from Sinn Fein after his refusal to cut links with the dissident 32 County Sovereignty Movement.
Sinn Fein later wrote to Omagh District Council in May of this year officially informing it that Mr Mackey had been expelled from the party and should no longer be included in power sharing arrangements involving elected Sinn Fein representatives. It is believed he has since left the party.
Omagh District Council held an emergency meeting two days after the town's devastating bomb blast.
At that meeting it is understood Mr Mackey backed the Council's motion condemning the attack. Later, when he was confronted by reporters outside the Council office he refused to be drawn into openly condemning the bombers.
Some time later the councillor was quoted in some press reports as condemning the bomb attack.
Ann Gormley, the Alliance member who had also left Omagh's last council meeting in protest at Mr Mackey's presence, said she would continue her opposition to him.
"I have been congratulated left right and centre by people from all walks of life and all political persuasions since it happened. They were actually surprised when they read in our local papers to know that councillor Mackey was actually acting as a councillor since the 17th of August," she said.
"I felt at the time it would have been very insensitive to have done anything earlier, so we felt that time was right in October to call for his resignation."
Mrs Gormley said Mr Mackey did not have a mandate since he had "switched allegiances" after his election to office.
"I would imagine if he stood in an election under his banner of the 32 County Sovereignty committee he would not get elected. He would have very little support locally."
Meanwhile relatives of the Omagh bomb victims have travelled to Spain to take part in special commemoration service in Madrid due to take place today.
Relatives from Buncrana and Omagh flew out yesterday to attend the service commemorating three County Donegal children and their two Spanish friends who died in the August blast.
By Steven McCaffery
'Resign' calls renewed
EFFORTS to push 32 County chairman Francis Mackey from Omagh district council are set to intensify.
At its next full meeting the council is expected to hear a call for Mr Mackey to clarify which political organisation he represents - a move likely to be followed by demands the former Sinn Fein member resigns his seat and seeks a fresh mandate.
His close ties with the 32 County Sovereignty Movement - linked to the Real IRA the group responsible for the Omagh bomb - has led to growing anger at Mr Mackey's continuing role in public life.
Councillors in the area have also attacked his initial refusal to condemn the bombing which claimed the lives of 29 people.
Last night Mr Mackey could not be contacted, though he has already dismissed resignation calls. Though existing procedures would not allow councillors to force Mr Mackey out, the fresh calls for his resignation may attract significant cross-party support.
In a letter to the Irish News yesterday Laurence Rush - whose wife Libby was killed in the blast -pledged to "protest vigorously" against Mr Mackey's continuing role in council life.
As anger over Mr Mackey's position continues, work yesterday began on the demolition of the buildings devastated by August's bombing. It is expected to take contractors a week to clear the battered section of Market Street.
Earlier this year Mr Mackey was suspended from Sinn Fein after his refusal to cut links with the dissident 32 County Sovereignty Movement.
Sinn Fein later wrote to Omagh District Council in May of this year officially informing it that Mr Mackey had been expelled from the party and should no longer be included in power sharing arrangements involving elected Sinn Fein representatives. It is believed he has since left the party.
Omagh District Council held an emergency meeting two days after the town's devastating bomb blast.
At that meeting it is understood Mr Mackey backed the Council's motion condemning the attack. Later, when he was confronted by reporters outside the Council office he refused to be drawn into openly condemning the bombers.
Some time later the councillor was quoted in some press reports as condemning the bomb attack.
Ann Gormley, the Alliance member who had also left Omagh's last council meeting in protest at Mr Mackey's presence, said she would continue her opposition to him.
"I have been congratulated left right and centre by people from all walks of life and all political persuasions since it happened. They were actually surprised when they read in our local papers to know that councillor Mackey was actually acting as a councillor since the 17th of August," she said.
"I felt at the time it would have been very insensitive to have done anything earlier, so we felt that time was right in October to call for his resignation."
Mrs Gormley said Mr Mackey did not have a mandate since he had "switched allegiances" after his election to office.
"I would imagine if he stood in an election under his banner of the 32 County Sovereignty committee he would not get elected. He would have very little support locally."
Meanwhile relatives of the Omagh bomb victims have travelled to Spain to take part in special commemoration service in Madrid due to take place today.
Relatives from Buncrana and Omagh flew out yesterday to attend the service commemorating three County Donegal children and their two Spanish friends who died in the August blast.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0446
Published Date: 16-Oct-98
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