PEACE RALLY TOLD BOMBERS NOT WANTED IN DERRY
Peace rally told bombers not wanted in Derry
By Seamus McKinney
A PEACE rally in Derry has been told that dissident republicans will eventually get the message that they are not wanted.
Approximately 200 people attended the lunch-time rally which was organised by Derry Trades Council at the city's Guildhall Square.
The rally was organised in response to a Real IRA car-bomb attack on a bank in the city two weeks ago.
Derry Trades Council secretary Liam Gallagher said the rally sent a clear message to dissident republicans.
He said every time an incident occurred the numbers attending such rallies would increase.
"Finally the perpetrators of these crimes against this city get the message that they are not wanted," he said.
Following the rally Foyle MP Mark Durkan said the diversity of the crowd who came to the rally strengthened the unity and clarity of the message it sent out.
"People want to take this city to better days and do not want to be dragged back to the bad days and the bad ways of the past," he said.
East Derry MP Gregory Campbell said the intent and capability of the Real IRA was shown through the organisation's attack on Strand Road police station in August and on the bank earlier this month.
Mr Campbell, who stood under a banner reading "Stop bombing Londonderry", said: "It is very clear there is no support amongst the majority of people for these groups but also that the public can have a crucial role in helping to bring them to justice.
"Information coming forward from the community is vital to the ability of the security forces in tackling the threat they pose."
Police in Derry also confirmed yesterday that they intend restricting car parking outside the city's Strand Road police station. The move is a response to August's dissident car bomb attack.
In a separate development, gardai in Co Donegal have established a special squad to deal with the growing dissident threat.
Divisional Garda commander Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn said the armed unit was being established in Ballyshannon.
Ms McGinn said the new unit would have access to firearms and Taser stun-guns. She revealed details of the new unit at a meeting of Donegal's Joint Policing Committee.
By Seamus McKinney
A PEACE rally in Derry has been told that dissident republicans will eventually get the message that they are not wanted.
Approximately 200 people attended the lunch-time rally which was organised by Derry Trades Council at the city's Guildhall Square.
The rally was organised in response to a Real IRA car-bomb attack on a bank in the city two weeks ago.
Derry Trades Council secretary Liam Gallagher said the rally sent a clear message to dissident republicans.
He said every time an incident occurred the numbers attending such rallies would increase.
"Finally the perpetrators of these crimes against this city get the message that they are not wanted," he said.
Following the rally Foyle MP Mark Durkan said the diversity of the crowd who came to the rally strengthened the unity and clarity of the message it sent out.
"People want to take this city to better days and do not want to be dragged back to the bad days and the bad ways of the past," he said.
East Derry MP Gregory Campbell said the intent and capability of the Real IRA was shown through the organisation's attack on Strand Road police station in August and on the bank earlier this month.
Mr Campbell, who stood under a banner reading "Stop bombing Londonderry", said: "It is very clear there is no support amongst the majority of people for these groups but also that the public can have a crucial role in helping to bring them to justice.
"Information coming forward from the community is vital to the ability of the security forces in tackling the threat they pose."
Police in Derry also confirmed yesterday that they intend restricting car parking outside the city's Strand Road police station. The move is a response to August's dissident car bomb attack.
In a separate development, gardai in Co Donegal have established a special squad to deal with the growing dissident threat.
Divisional Garda commander Chief Superintendent Terry McGinn said the armed unit was being established in Ballyshannon.
Ms McGinn said the new unit would have access to firearms and Taser stun-guns. She revealed details of the new unit at a meeting of Donegal's Joint Policing Committee.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/1038
Published Date: 16-Oct-10
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