STOP THIS STUNT SAYS OMAGH WIDOWER
Stop this stunt says Omagh widower
By Martin Anderson
A MAN whose wife, daughter, granddaughter, and two unborn grandchildren were killed in the Omagh bomb has pleaded with a Conservative MP to scrap plans to "name and shame" the alleged bombers.
Michael Grimes, who has not spoken to the press since last year's, tragedy, reluctantly broke his silence last night to ask Andrew Hunter to reconsider using parliamentary privilege to name the suspects in the House of Commons today.
Mr Grimes' wife Mary, daughter Avril Monaghan who was heavily pregnant with twins, and 18-month-old granddaughter Maura, were all killed by the explosion in Omagh town centre on August 15 last year.
The 73-year-old farmer from Beragh, Co Tyrone, added his voice to those of RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Secretary of State Mo Mowlam who also called on Mr Hunter not to go ahead with his plans in the interests of justice.
Mr Grimes told the Irish News that the "publicity stunt" would only make things worse for his family and the other relatives of the bereaved.
"It would do me more harm than good if I heard names," he said. "Who is he doing this for? It's nothing short of a political stunt.
"I would like to ask him if he has talked to any of the victims or those who have beenbereaved.
"I want the thing stopped. He would be doing no good for peace in Northern Ireland. That's definitely not his intention. What way is it going to benefit people?
"At the moment I have nobody to hate for doing this. What if he wrongly mentions someone?
"They have put people in jail before for things that they didn't do. There has been no trial to prove that these people that he thinks are responsible did it, yet he's prepared to name them. That just doesn't make sense to me."
RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan said he was optimistic that suspects would be charged with the Omagh bombing but "naming and shaming" could be prejudicial to any future trial.
"This applies particularly to the Omagh atrocity," he said. "While there is continuing ground for optimism that those responsible will be prosecuted, there is not yet sufficient evidence to place those responsible before the courts."
Dr Mowlam said if Mr Hunter went ahead with his threat he would be acting in a "shameful and irresponsible" manner.
"What Mr Hunter is proposing to do will have the reverse effect. I have had it confirmed, on the best possible legal advice, that it could prejudice any eventual prosecution, the continuing police investigation and, therefore, prevent justice being done. That would be an insult to the memory of .those who died and to the deep commitment shown by the RUC team investigating the atrocity. The law demands evidence and, frustrating as that process can be, that is the standard we must meet. The alternative is justice by headline and I regret that that is what Mr Hunter appears to want."
Mr Grimes said: "If you were to apportion the blame out for the Omagh bomb there would be a lot of people affected, maybe not as much as the ones who planted it, but they would have to take some share of the blame.
"Hopefully this can be nipped in the bud. It definitely isn't helping and I don't think anyone has any more right to protest than myself."
By Martin Anderson
A MAN whose wife, daughter, granddaughter, and two unborn grandchildren were killed in the Omagh bomb has pleaded with a Conservative MP to scrap plans to "name and shame" the alleged bombers.
Michael Grimes, who has not spoken to the press since last year's, tragedy, reluctantly broke his silence last night to ask Andrew Hunter to reconsider using parliamentary privilege to name the suspects in the House of Commons today.
Mr Grimes' wife Mary, daughter Avril Monaghan who was heavily pregnant with twins, and 18-month-old granddaughter Maura, were all killed by the explosion in Omagh town centre on August 15 last year.
The 73-year-old farmer from Beragh, Co Tyrone, added his voice to those of RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan and Secretary of State Mo Mowlam who also called on Mr Hunter not to go ahead with his plans in the interests of justice.
Mr Grimes told the Irish News that the "publicity stunt" would only make things worse for his family and the other relatives of the bereaved.
"It would do me more harm than good if I heard names," he said. "Who is he doing this for? It's nothing short of a political stunt.
"I would like to ask him if he has talked to any of the victims or those who have beenbereaved.
"I want the thing stopped. He would be doing no good for peace in Northern Ireland. That's definitely not his intention. What way is it going to benefit people?
"At the moment I have nobody to hate for doing this. What if he wrongly mentions someone?
"They have put people in jail before for things that they didn't do. There has been no trial to prove that these people that he thinks are responsible did it, yet he's prepared to name them. That just doesn't make sense to me."
RUC Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan said he was optimistic that suspects would be charged with the Omagh bombing but "naming and shaming" could be prejudicial to any future trial.
"This applies particularly to the Omagh atrocity," he said. "While there is continuing ground for optimism that those responsible will be prosecuted, there is not yet sufficient evidence to place those responsible before the courts."
Dr Mowlam said if Mr Hunter went ahead with his threat he would be acting in a "shameful and irresponsible" manner.
"What Mr Hunter is proposing to do will have the reverse effect. I have had it confirmed, on the best possible legal advice, that it could prejudice any eventual prosecution, the continuing police investigation and, therefore, prevent justice being done. That would be an insult to the memory of .those who died and to the deep commitment shown by the RUC team investigating the atrocity. The law demands evidence and, frustrating as that process can be, that is the standard we must meet. The alternative is justice by headline and I regret that that is what Mr Hunter appears to want."
Mr Grimes said: "If you were to apportion the blame out for the Omagh bomb there would be a lot of people affected, maybe not as much as the ones who planted it, but they would have to take some share of the blame.
"Hopefully this can be nipped in the bud. It definitely isn't helping and I don't think anyone has any more right to protest than myself."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0497
Published Date: 20-Jan-99
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