OMAGH FAILURE MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED
Omagh failure 'may have contributed'
HE failure to bring those behind the Omagh bombing to justice might have contributed to the three latest murders, victims' relatives have claimed.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the 1998 Real IRA car bomb blast along with 28 other people including a woman pregnant with twins, said the British and Irish governments must take some responsibility for the latest dissident republican attacks.
"If they had put those people behind bars it would have sent a strong message to the terrorists and may have prevented some of those involved in the planning, preparation, or the actual terrorist attacks themselves," he said.
Mr Gallagher was speaking in Madrid on the fifth anniversary of the Spanish train bombings which killed 191 people.
"Sadly, the re-emergence of terrorism murders on Northern Ireland streets right now is a matter which not just challenges the security forces but most of all the political and justice systems in our country. It is a shocking reminder of their appalling failure," he said.
Mr Gallagher said relatives have been failed by government and called on the EU to enact legislation to ensure member states follow the example of the Spanish government in response to attacks there.
An NIO spokeswoman said: "The government recognises and understands the ongoing pain felt by the families of the Omagh victims but it is clear that responsibility for acts of terrorism such as the three murders in recent days lies with the terrorists and no-one else.
"The PSNI has the government's full support in its investigations to bring those responsible for all terrorist attacks to justice."
HE failure to bring those behind the Omagh bombing to justice might have contributed to the three latest murders, victims' relatives have claimed.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden died in the 1998 Real IRA car bomb blast along with 28 other people including a woman pregnant with twins, said the British and Irish governments must take some responsibility for the latest dissident republican attacks.
"If they had put those people behind bars it would have sent a strong message to the terrorists and may have prevented some of those involved in the planning, preparation, or the actual terrorist attacks themselves," he said.
Mr Gallagher was speaking in Madrid on the fifth anniversary of the Spanish train bombings which killed 191 people.
"Sadly, the re-emergence of terrorism murders on Northern Ireland streets right now is a matter which not just challenges the security forces but most of all the political and justice systems in our country. It is a shocking reminder of their appalling failure," he said.
Mr Gallagher said relatives have been failed by government and called on the EU to enact legislation to ensure member states follow the example of the Spanish government in response to attacks there.
An NIO spokeswoman said: "The government recognises and understands the ongoing pain felt by the families of the Omagh victims but it is clear that responsibility for acts of terrorism such as the three murders in recent days lies with the terrorists and no-one else.
"The PSNI has the government's full support in its investigations to bring those responsible for all terrorist attacks to justice."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0993
Published Date: 12-Mar-09
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