32 COUNTY BODY HITS OUT OVER SLUR BID
32 County body hits out over 'slur' bid
By Martin Anderson
THE NATIONAL executive of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has condemned the "vilification" of its chairman Francis Mackey.
Mr Mackey, an Omagh district councillor, was strongly criticised after the Omagh bomb for failing to condemn the attack in front of the world's media.
In recent weeks there have been a number of protests against his continued presence on the council, including a walkout by Alliance and Labour councillors.
Omagh businessman Laurence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed in the blast, has also vowed to hound him from office.
He said: "Councillor Mackey may have been dealt a fatal blow to his political career, however, he shall find no solace or sympathy from me. He still has a wife to go home to - I do not."
The 32 County statement said: "We are deeply concerned about the callous politically motivated campaign to exploit genuine grief by scapegoating Francie Mackey for partisan political gain.
"Francis Mackey, as the number of the Sovereignty Movement, an open and legal political movement, is no more responsible for this tragedy than he was as a Sinn Fein councillor for the Shankill Road or Enniskillen.
"He was elected because he represents the belief that a lasting peace will only be achieved by ending British rule and the injustices which have provoked conflict in Ireland.
"His beliefs have not changed: a fact which may be embarrassing to others who have accepted British rule and seek to join a British administration at Stormont.
"He has withstood attempts to silence these views in the past but did not allow intimidation to prevent him from representing the views of his constituents.
"His heartfelt sorrow and expression of grief are matters of public record. Exploiting and manipulating genuine emotions for political advantage will compound rather than alleviate the tragedy."
By Martin Anderson
THE NATIONAL executive of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has condemned the "vilification" of its chairman Francis Mackey.
Mr Mackey, an Omagh district councillor, was strongly criticised after the Omagh bomb for failing to condemn the attack in front of the world's media.
In recent weeks there have been a number of protests against his continued presence on the council, including a walkout by Alliance and Labour councillors.
Omagh businessman Laurence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed in the blast, has also vowed to hound him from office.
He said: "Councillor Mackey may have been dealt a fatal blow to his political career, however, he shall find no solace or sympathy from me. He still has a wife to go home to - I do not."
The 32 County statement said: "We are deeply concerned about the callous politically motivated campaign to exploit genuine grief by scapegoating Francie Mackey for partisan political gain.
"Francis Mackey, as the number of the Sovereignty Movement, an open and legal political movement, is no more responsible for this tragedy than he was as a Sinn Fein councillor for the Shankill Road or Enniskillen.
"He was elected because he represents the belief that a lasting peace will only be achieved by ending British rule and the injustices which have provoked conflict in Ireland.
"His beliefs have not changed: a fact which may be embarrassing to others who have accepted British rule and seek to join a British administration at Stormont.
"He has withstood attempts to silence these views in the past but did not allow intimidation to prevent him from representing the views of his constituents.
"His heartfelt sorrow and expression of grief are matters of public record. Exploiting and manipulating genuine emotions for political advantage will compound rather than alleviate the tragedy."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0454
Published Date: 20-Oct-98
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