SECURITY INITIATIVE SET TO BE LAUNCHED
Security initiative set to be launched
By Brendan Anderson
Governments promise to hunt down the bombers
THE Irish and British governments yesterday announced a tough new package of measures to combat the increasing violence of dissident
republican groups.
Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and the Republic's Justice Minister John O'Donoghue emerged from a four-hour meeting and said their
governments had united to "leave no stone unturned" in the hunt for the Omagh bombers.
Following a detailed briefing by RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne, the two politicians hammered
out what they termed a "three-pronged attack" on violent groups including the Real IRA, believed to be responsible for the explosion which claimed 28 lives on Saturday.
The two governments intend to:
>enhance practical security operations in border areas
>simplify the securing of convictions for membership of proscribed organisations on both sides of the border.
While the two politicians felt unable, for legal reasons, to enlarge on this measure, it is likely to be based on the lines of the Republic's emergency laws which provide for the conviction of a suspect whom a senior police officer believed was a member of a proscribed organisation
consider a range of other measures which have a complex legal dimension and which would have to be fine-tuned by the two governments.
Much of the package is being kept under wraps for security reasons but Dr Mowlam and Mr Byrne admitted they had discussed the re-introduction of internment although this is not believed by the British side to be a viable option.
Announcing limited details of the package at Stormont House, Dr Mowlam said: "Can I say that they are difficult issues. If it was simple things that could have been done, they would have been done already.
"It is difficult to go into the specific details, partly because we need to check some of the legal facts that we have been unable to get final answers on today and secondly because we need to consult broadly with cabinet colleagues on both sides and with the prime minister and the taoiseach.
"The other reason why we can't tell you is because it would be stupid. If we are trying to find ways of tightening up security, if we publicise that, it defeats the purpose of what we are doing."
The secretary of state also revealed that the plans for increased co-operation between security forces on both sides of the border had already been put into action within the past 24 hours.
"We are talking about 30 people who are out to destroy the process that the majority of people of Northern Ireland and the south want to build. We are going to make sure that that building takes place and we are determined to make it as hard as possible for these groups to... destroy what others want to build," she said.
Earlier, Dr Mowlam said she wished to convey her sympathy to the suffering people of Omagh.
"Particularly when you talk about the 11 children who have been killed, it is difficult to find words to talk about what has happened.
The people who did this are just not human, they are animals.
We are determined to do everything possible to make sure these people are taken off the streets," she said.
Justice Minister O'Donoghue, asked whether he was considering re-introducing internment, said "no option which results in people being taken off the streets has been ruled out.
"It is the firm resolve of the Irish government to ensure that people who perpetrated this appalling crime will face justice.
"It is the wish of people everywhere that we will ensure that people such as these do not have the opportunity again of carrying out such a horrific crime.
In those circumstances people will expect us to try to take those people off the streets.
That is a task for each government on each side of the border.
"No government alone can unilaterally hope to succeed. We must fight this together.
There are no simple or easy solutions, but there are a number of very serious options which we have both agreed to look at and look at very seriously."
The RUC's chief constable and the Garda commissioner have also been asked to come up with fresh proposals to tackle the rising level of violence.
By Brendan Anderson
Governments promise to hunt down the bombers
THE Irish and British governments yesterday announced a tough new package of measures to combat the increasing violence of dissident
republican groups.
Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and the Republic's Justice Minister John O'Donoghue emerged from a four-hour meeting and said their
governments had united to "leave no stone unturned" in the hunt for the Omagh bombers.
Following a detailed briefing by RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne, the two politicians hammered
out what they termed a "three-pronged attack" on violent groups including the Real IRA, believed to be responsible for the explosion which claimed 28 lives on Saturday.
The two governments intend to:
>enhance practical security operations in border areas
>simplify the securing of convictions for membership of proscribed organisations on both sides of the border.
While the two politicians felt unable, for legal reasons, to enlarge on this measure, it is likely to be based on the lines of the Republic's emergency laws which provide for the conviction of a suspect whom a senior police officer believed was a member of a proscribed organisation
consider a range of other measures which have a complex legal dimension and which would have to be fine-tuned by the two governments.
Much of the package is being kept under wraps for security reasons but Dr Mowlam and Mr Byrne admitted they had discussed the re-introduction of internment although this is not believed by the British side to be a viable option.
Announcing limited details of the package at Stormont House, Dr Mowlam said: "Can I say that they are difficult issues. If it was simple things that could have been done, they would have been done already.
"It is difficult to go into the specific details, partly because we need to check some of the legal facts that we have been unable to get final answers on today and secondly because we need to consult broadly with cabinet colleagues on both sides and with the prime minister and the taoiseach.
"The other reason why we can't tell you is because it would be stupid. If we are trying to find ways of tightening up security, if we publicise that, it defeats the purpose of what we are doing."
The secretary of state also revealed that the plans for increased co-operation between security forces on both sides of the border had already been put into action within the past 24 hours.
"We are talking about 30 people who are out to destroy the process that the majority of people of Northern Ireland and the south want to build. We are going to make sure that that building takes place and we are determined to make it as hard as possible for these groups to... destroy what others want to build," she said.
Earlier, Dr Mowlam said she wished to convey her sympathy to the suffering people of Omagh.
"Particularly when you talk about the 11 children who have been killed, it is difficult to find words to talk about what has happened.
The people who did this are just not human, they are animals.
We are determined to do everything possible to make sure these people are taken off the streets," she said.
Justice Minister O'Donoghue, asked whether he was considering re-introducing internment, said "no option which results in people being taken off the streets has been ruled out.
"It is the firm resolve of the Irish government to ensure that people who perpetrated this appalling crime will face justice.
"It is the wish of people everywhere that we will ensure that people such as these do not have the opportunity again of carrying out such a horrific crime.
In those circumstances people will expect us to try to take those people off the streets.
That is a task for each government on each side of the border.
"No government alone can unilaterally hope to succeed. We must fight this together.
There are no simple or easy solutions, but there are a number of very serious options which we have both agreed to look at and look at very seriously."
The RUC's chief constable and the Garda commissioner have also been asked to come up with fresh proposals to tackle the rising level of violence.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0684
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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