UNITED RESOLVE
UNITED RESOLVE
By Valerie Robinson
Blair pledges to keep peace process on track
PRIME Minister Tony Blair spoke of his determination to bring to justice the people behind Saturday's bomb attack in Omagh which left 28 people dead and 220 injured.
Mr Blair described the suffering of victims and the bereaved he met yesterday during his visit to Northern Ireland in the wake of the attack.
"What I saw in the Royal hospital on Sunday night in Belfast will stay with me all my life. We sat together in a room myself, the hospital staff, the families of the victims, talking between the tears."
He said the British and Irish governments would work together to track down the perpetrators of the attack and prevent them from damaging the peace process.
"We can defeat it, if we refuse to be deflected. We must and will take whatever sensible security measures we can to crush the rump of dissidents.
"But we must also carry on the process of establishing real democracy and dialogue in which all political opinions can argue their case in peace."
His comments came as arrangements were made for the first funerals of the Omagh bomb victims.
Avril Monaghan (30), pregnant with twins at the time of her death, and her 18-month-old daughter Maura are due to be buried today following Mass at St Macartan's Church in Augher, Co Tyrone
Mrs Monaghan's mother Mary Grimes (65), who was also killed, is expected to be laid to rest tomorrow in her home village of Beragh after Requiem Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 11.30am.
Other victims' funerals expected to take place tomorrow include
Brenda Logue (17), at Requiem Mall in St Mary's Church in Omagh.
And Jolene Marlow (17) will be taken to St Patrick's Church in Eskra tomorrow for Requiem Mass.
Philomena Skelton (39) will be laid to rest tomorrow following Mass in St Patrick's Church in Langfield.
As the hunt for the bombers got underway, Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and the Irish Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue met RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne.
Following the meeting Dr Mowlam and Minister O'Donoghue said they had devised "a three-pronged attack" on groups who continue to use violence.
The measures would include enhanced security operations along the border areas, means to make it easier to get convictions for membership of proscribed groups and a wide range of other measures.
Dr Mowlam said internment had not been ruled out.
"No option which would involve taking these people off the streets has been ruled out," she said.
Five people were arrested yesterday and were being questioned at Castlereagh RUC station in connection with the Omagh bombing.
Among those arrested was Shane Mackey, son of Councillor Francis Mackey who is a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee which is believed to be connected to a dissident group linked to the attack.
The victims' families yesterday spoke of the shock and horror they felt at losing their loved ones in the bomb.
Jolene Marlow's father Joe said his daughter was always determined to "take everybody for their own values".
Fifteen-year-old Lorraine Wilson's brother Garry remembered searching for her in the hospital.
"We saw a couple of bodies go past us with sheets over them. I was just thinking 'could that be her?'," he said.
Vigils in Omagh and Belfast will be held today to commemorate the victims of the weekend's blast.
The Omagh-based community groups' umbrella organisation, Focus will hold a candle-light vigil tonight at 7pm in Drumragh Avenue car park in the town.
Belfast's Lord Mayor Councillor David Alderdice will join Church leaders in front of city hall today for a 15-minute vigil at 1pm.
Members of the public are urged to attend to show their support for residents of Omagh.
Spain's deputy Prime Minister Francisco Alvarez Cascos visited Altnagelvin hospital to see two of the Spanish school boys injured in the attack. He also laid flowers in memory of the dead.
By Valerie Robinson
Blair pledges to keep peace process on track
PRIME Minister Tony Blair spoke of his determination to bring to justice the people behind Saturday's bomb attack in Omagh which left 28 people dead and 220 injured.
Mr Blair described the suffering of victims and the bereaved he met yesterday during his visit to Northern Ireland in the wake of the attack.
"What I saw in the Royal hospital on Sunday night in Belfast will stay with me all my life. We sat together in a room myself, the hospital staff, the families of the victims, talking between the tears."
He said the British and Irish governments would work together to track down the perpetrators of the attack and prevent them from damaging the peace process.
"We can defeat it, if we refuse to be deflected. We must and will take whatever sensible security measures we can to crush the rump of dissidents.
"But we must also carry on the process of establishing real democracy and dialogue in which all political opinions can argue their case in peace."
His comments came as arrangements were made for the first funerals of the Omagh bomb victims.
Avril Monaghan (30), pregnant with twins at the time of her death, and her 18-month-old daughter Maura are due to be buried today following Mass at St Macartan's Church in Augher, Co Tyrone
Mrs Monaghan's mother Mary Grimes (65), who was also killed, is expected to be laid to rest tomorrow in her home village of Beragh after Requiem Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 11.30am.
Other victims' funerals expected to take place tomorrow include
Brenda Logue (17), at Requiem Mall in St Mary's Church in Omagh.
And Jolene Marlow (17) will be taken to St Patrick's Church in Eskra tomorrow for Requiem Mass.
Philomena Skelton (39) will be laid to rest tomorrow following Mass in St Patrick's Church in Langfield.
As the hunt for the bombers got underway, Secretary of State Mo Mowlam and the Irish Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue met RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne.
Following the meeting Dr Mowlam and Minister O'Donoghue said they had devised "a three-pronged attack" on groups who continue to use violence.
The measures would include enhanced security operations along the border areas, means to make it easier to get convictions for membership of proscribed groups and a wide range of other measures.
Dr Mowlam said internment had not been ruled out.
"No option which would involve taking these people off the streets has been ruled out," she said.
Five people were arrested yesterday and were being questioned at Castlereagh RUC station in connection with the Omagh bombing.
Among those arrested was Shane Mackey, son of Councillor Francis Mackey who is a member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee which is believed to be connected to a dissident group linked to the attack.
The victims' families yesterday spoke of the shock and horror they felt at losing their loved ones in the bomb.
Jolene Marlow's father Joe said his daughter was always determined to "take everybody for their own values".
Fifteen-year-old Lorraine Wilson's brother Garry remembered searching for her in the hospital.
"We saw a couple of bodies go past us with sheets over them. I was just thinking 'could that be her?'," he said.
Vigils in Omagh and Belfast will be held today to commemorate the victims of the weekend's blast.
The Omagh-based community groups' umbrella organisation, Focus will hold a candle-light vigil tonight at 7pm in Drumragh Avenue car park in the town.
Belfast's Lord Mayor Councillor David Alderdice will join Church leaders in front of city hall today for a 15-minute vigil at 1pm.
Members of the public are urged to attend to show their support for residents of Omagh.
Spain's deputy Prime Minister Francisco Alvarez Cascos visited Altnagelvin hospital to see two of the Spanish school boys injured in the attack. He also laid flowers in memory of the dead.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0688
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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