OMAGH FAMILY REJECT TRUTH PROCESS MOVE
Omagh family reject truth process move
By Sharon O'Neill
Chief Reporter
A FATHER-OF-THREE whose wife was killed in the Omagh bombing last night rejected any form of truth and reconciliation process for victims' relatives, insisting: "We have a right to get justice through the courts."
Laurence Rush was responding to comments by Chief Constable Hugh Orde who admitted that those behind over 1,800 paramilitary murders were unlikely to be caught and suggested a truth commission as a method of 'closure' for families.
Out of the 2,389 paramilitary killings committed since 1969, 1,874 remain unsolved - including the recent sectarian murders of Daniel McColgan and Gerard Lawlor.
Nationalist and unionist politicians have warned that criminal investigations into conflict-related murders must not be sacrificed for any truth and reconciliation.
Last week the chief constable, who has raised the issue of 'closure' for families on numerous occasions, said there was little chance of securing any convictions on the unsolved murders spanning over three decades.
"There needs to be something that gives everyone an opportunity to say their piece, to get the best explanation they can on what happened to their families, their loved ones so they can then get on with their lives," Mr Orde said.
Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was one of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed in the 1998 Omagh bombing, hit out at any moves to set up such a commission.
So far only one person has been convicted in connection with the Real IRA attack but no-one has been charged with murder.
The Police Ombudsman's damning report into the RUC handling of the investigation uncovered a litany of errors.
Frustrated at the lack of convictions, families launched a civil action against the suspected bombers which is due to be heard at the High Court in Belfast later this year.
Last night Mr Rush said: "There had been a major cock-up on Omagh (by police), how many more have there been, how many people have been prevented from getting justice?
"I don't feel I can rest, it is not revenge, it my right to get justice. The police have poor investigative skills and their record suggests that. I want to live in a country that is policed properly."
Mr Rush had already expressed concern over the state of the Omagh bomb investigation well before the probe by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan.
"I think we are on a slippery slope to allowing an unjust society when hope is removed from people who have been hurt and those who have committed murder are allowed to get away with it," he said.
"What I require is not reconciliation with the murderers of my wife and mother of my children, who was desecrated in the Omagh outrage, it is the truth I require and amends made through receiving justice."
By Sharon O'Neill
Chief Reporter
A FATHER-OF-THREE whose wife was killed in the Omagh bombing last night rejected any form of truth and reconciliation process for victims' relatives, insisting: "We have a right to get justice through the courts."
Laurence Rush was responding to comments by Chief Constable Hugh Orde who admitted that those behind over 1,800 paramilitary murders were unlikely to be caught and suggested a truth commission as a method of 'closure' for families.
Out of the 2,389 paramilitary killings committed since 1969, 1,874 remain unsolved - including the recent sectarian murders of Daniel McColgan and Gerard Lawlor.
Nationalist and unionist politicians have warned that criminal investigations into conflict-related murders must not be sacrificed for any truth and reconciliation.
Last week the chief constable, who has raised the issue of 'closure' for families on numerous occasions, said there was little chance of securing any convictions on the unsolved murders spanning over three decades.
"There needs to be something that gives everyone an opportunity to say their piece, to get the best explanation they can on what happened to their families, their loved ones so they can then get on with their lives," Mr Orde said.
Laurence Rush, whose wife Elizabeth was one of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed in the 1998 Omagh bombing, hit out at any moves to set up such a commission.
So far only one person has been convicted in connection with the Real IRA attack but no-one has been charged with murder.
The Police Ombudsman's damning report into the RUC handling of the investigation uncovered a litany of errors.
Frustrated at the lack of convictions, families launched a civil action against the suspected bombers which is due to be heard at the High Court in Belfast later this year.
Last night Mr Rush said: "There had been a major cock-up on Omagh (by police), how many more have there been, how many people have been prevented from getting justice?
"I don't feel I can rest, it is not revenge, it my right to get justice. The police have poor investigative skills and their record suggests that. I want to live in a country that is policed properly."
Mr Rush had already expressed concern over the state of the Omagh bomb investigation well before the probe by Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan.
"I think we are on a slippery slope to allowing an unjust society when hope is removed from people who have been hurt and those who have committed murder are allowed to get away with it," he said.
"What I require is not reconciliation with the murderers of my wife and mother of my children, who was desecrated in the Omagh outrage, it is the truth I require and amends made through receiving justice."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0594
Published Date: 14-Jun-03
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