HAIN URGED TO TACKLE OMAGH MEMORIAL ROW
Hain urged to tackle Omagh memorial row
By Alan Erwin, PA
NORTHERN Ireland Secretary Peter Hain last night faced demands to intervene in a deepening row over a planned memorial stone at the site of the Omagh bomb explosion.
As incensed relatives of those murdered in the Real IRA atrocity confronted victims minister David Hanson over alleged resistance to the monument by the town's republican-dominated council, political pressure on the government to resolve the controversy intensified.
Democratic Unionist assembly member Ian Paisley jnr revealed he has written to Mr Hain demanding action after hearing the families' frustrations at their eight-year wait for the scheme to be finalised.
"He should intervene immediately and instruct that the monument is installed the way the victims want it," Mr Paisley said.
"He should cut through all the bureaucracy and double dealing by certain elements within the council."
Mr Paisley spoke out as the controversy overshadowed Mr Hanson's visit to Omagh to open a new SI.7 million refurbishment of the town centre.
The minister held separate talks with relatives of some of the 29 people - including unborn twins - killed in the August 1998 dissident republican
attack. Mr Hanson was told of their anger at being told a document of words they had submitted for the memorial should go out to wider consultation.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among those who died in the blast, said: "We left the minister in no doubt about the depth of feeling at the failure to have the memorial erected.
"We told him there were failings in his office, the Secretary of State's office and Omagh District Council.
"This was something everyone was aware of months ago and yet they decided to ignore the families' wishes and airbrush over the fact a memorial was promised and would be erected for the opening of the street.
"He's the victims minister and should be fighting our corner. I told him across the table we will judge him on his actions rather than his words."
The inscription proposed by the families was submitted earlier this year.
It was to read: "To honour and remember 31 people murdered and hundreds injured, from three nations, by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb."
But after a working group involving council representatives said it wanted to have the monument ready by 2008 to mark the tenth anniversary of the bombing, the local authority come under mounting criticism.
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey backed Mr Gallagher's assessment that Sinn Fein's strength on the council - it holds 10 of the 21 seats - was to blame for the delay.
The allegations were rejected by Sean Clarke, one of the party's councillors in Omagh.
"Michael Gallagher's claims are simply untrue. Omagh council has unanimously agreed to unveil a memorial stone in 2008, to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy and the council has also unanimously agreed the wording of the inscription," he said.
"In fact I believe that the unanimity of the council is also a very powerful message that we remain united in our horror at the bombing and united in our determination to support all of the people who suffered as a result of the atrocity."
After meeting the families, Mr Hanson expressed his regret that the row had flared.
"I hope that both the victims group and the council can work together in a positive way to... remember what happened on that day," he said.
He also praised the Omagh public's courage in rebuilding lives and the fabric of the town after the bomb.
"The spirit of the people of Omagh to look forward to a brighter and better future is reflected in the quality of these environmental improvements to the town centre," he said.
By Alan Erwin, PA
NORTHERN Ireland Secretary Peter Hain last night faced demands to intervene in a deepening row over a planned memorial stone at the site of the Omagh bomb explosion.
As incensed relatives of those murdered in the Real IRA atrocity confronted victims minister David Hanson over alleged resistance to the monument by the town's republican-dominated council, political pressure on the government to resolve the controversy intensified.
Democratic Unionist assembly member Ian Paisley jnr revealed he has written to Mr Hain demanding action after hearing the families' frustrations at their eight-year wait for the scheme to be finalised.
"He should intervene immediately and instruct that the monument is installed the way the victims want it," Mr Paisley said.
"He should cut through all the bureaucracy and double dealing by certain elements within the council."
Mr Paisley spoke out as the controversy overshadowed Mr Hanson's visit to Omagh to open a new SI.7 million refurbishment of the town centre.
The minister held separate talks with relatives of some of the 29 people - including unborn twins - killed in the August 1998 dissident republican
attack. Mr Hanson was told of their anger at being told a document of words they had submitted for the memorial should go out to wider consultation.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was among those who died in the blast, said: "We left the minister in no doubt about the depth of feeling at the failure to have the memorial erected.
"We told him there were failings in his office, the Secretary of State's office and Omagh District Council.
"This was something everyone was aware of months ago and yet they decided to ignore the families' wishes and airbrush over the fact a memorial was promised and would be erected for the opening of the street.
"He's the victims minister and should be fighting our corner. I told him across the table we will judge him on his actions rather than his words."
The inscription proposed by the families was submitted earlier this year.
It was to read: "To honour and remember 31 people murdered and hundreds injured, from three nations, by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb."
But after a working group involving council representatives said it wanted to have the monument ready by 2008 to mark the tenth anniversary of the bombing, the local authority come under mounting criticism.
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey backed Mr Gallagher's assessment that Sinn Fein's strength on the council - it holds 10 of the 21 seats - was to blame for the delay.
The allegations were rejected by Sean Clarke, one of the party's councillors in Omagh.
"Michael Gallagher's claims are simply untrue. Omagh council has unanimously agreed to unveil a memorial stone in 2008, to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragedy and the council has also unanimously agreed the wording of the inscription," he said.
"In fact I believe that the unanimity of the council is also a very powerful message that we remain united in our horror at the bombing and united in our determination to support all of the people who suffered as a result of the atrocity."
After meeting the families, Mr Hanson expressed his regret that the row had flared.
"I hope that both the victims group and the council can work together in a positive way to... remember what happened on that day," he said.
He also praised the Omagh public's courage in rebuilding lives and the fabric of the town after the bomb.
"The spirit of the people of Omagh to look forward to a brighter and better future is reflected in the quality of these environmental improvements to the town centre," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0814
Published Date: 14-Nov-06
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