WE WILL BRING KILLERS TO JUSTICE VOWS BLAIR
We will bring killers to justice vows Blair
PRIME Minister Tony Blair last night vowed to bring the killers of 28 people in the Omagh bombing to justice.
As the full scale of the human suffering caused by a 5001b car bomb in the town centre became clear, it emerged that three generations of one family - including a pregnant mother - were among the 28 dead.
Nine children were among the fatalities and 220 people were injured in Saturday's carnival day blast which wrecked the town centre.
As the painful process of telling families that relatives had died continued, Mr Blair arrived in the Province for urgent security talks.
He met Ulster First Minister David Trimble last night at Hillsborough Castle. Mr Trimble has called for a day of mourning to remember the dead of Omagh.
Mr Trimble emerged from the meeting with Tony Blair last night saying he believes most people in the Province possess a will to see an end to violence.
"Obviously there are some elements in society that are supportive of what has happened but I believe that they are a very small minority.
"I believe there is a will within this society shared by unionists and nationalists, Catholics and Protestants, and including some who would identify themselves as republicans, to see an end to things of this nature.
He said he hoped that that will would become manifest in support of the authorities in what had to be done.
Mr Trimble said he and Tony Blair had shared "shock and horror" about the incident and the deaths and casualties it had caused.
He added: "We share the grief and outrage felt in the community."
Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night jointly vowed to work together to hunt down those responsible for the Omagh bombing.
Speaking on the steps of Stormont House in Belfast, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern were united in condemning the terrorists behind the atrocity.
After a meeting with his Irish counterpart that lasted almost an hour, Mr Blair said: "The taoiseach and I have met this evening. We are agreed first of all on our total shock, horror and outrage of this act of unspeakable evil that has united people everywhere in their condemnation of it.
"We know the emotions of people are those of grief and sympathy for the bereaved and the families of the victims.
"We know also of the anger people will feel.
"For our part we have agreed that the two governments will work together and do everything possible in their power to hunt down those responsible for this outrage.
"Tomorrow morning there will be a meeting between commissioner Pat Byrne and the chief constable of the RUC Ronnie Flanagan.
"They will discuss and reflect upon any measures that can assist us in improving the security of people here and bring terrorists to justice.
"We will obviously consider very carefully and seriously any measures they propose to us.
"In addition however we have now arranged a meeting between the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Minister for Justice from the Irish Republic."
Security sources said the bombers were prepared to kill again and again to try to end the peace process. One called their leader a "ruthless, uncompromising bastard who has no qualms about what he is doing".
The RUC said 26 of the dead had been identified.
At least 10 of the injured were in a critical condition last night.
RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan said yesterday that the victims were deliberately drawn to the blast.
Mr Flanagan said he believed the bombers orchestrated the carnage at Omagh by giving a misleading warning about where the device was planted.
Meanwhile DUP chief Ian Paisley left Hillsborough Castle in a fury last night, saying that he had been snubbed by Tony Blair.
Mr Paisley said that had he had met with Mr Blair, he would say that the Government should stop the "appeasement" of Sinn Fein.
PM visits victims
PRIME Minister Tony Blair last night spoke with injured survivors of the Omagh bombing atrocity.
He spent more than hour at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and at one stage went into the intensive care unit where the critically injured are undergoing treatment. The visit was strictly private.
During his time on the wards he also met with relatives, medical and nursing staff.
Mr Blair, who had earlier met with the Irish Premier Bertie Ahern, visited every ward where the injured were being treated.
PRIME Minister Tony Blair last night vowed to bring the killers of 28 people in the Omagh bombing to justice.
As the full scale of the human suffering caused by a 5001b car bomb in the town centre became clear, it emerged that three generations of one family - including a pregnant mother - were among the 28 dead.
Nine children were among the fatalities and 220 people were injured in Saturday's carnival day blast which wrecked the town centre.
As the painful process of telling families that relatives had died continued, Mr Blair arrived in the Province for urgent security talks.
He met Ulster First Minister David Trimble last night at Hillsborough Castle. Mr Trimble has called for a day of mourning to remember the dead of Omagh.
Mr Trimble emerged from the meeting with Tony Blair last night saying he believes most people in the Province possess a will to see an end to violence.
"Obviously there are some elements in society that are supportive of what has happened but I believe that they are a very small minority.
"I believe there is a will within this society shared by unionists and nationalists, Catholics and Protestants, and including some who would identify themselves as republicans, to see an end to things of this nature.
He said he hoped that that will would become manifest in support of the authorities in what had to be done.
Mr Trimble said he and Tony Blair had shared "shock and horror" about the incident and the deaths and casualties it had caused.
He added: "We share the grief and outrage felt in the community."
Mr Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern last night jointly vowed to work together to hunt down those responsible for the Omagh bombing.
Speaking on the steps of Stormont House in Belfast, Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern were united in condemning the terrorists behind the atrocity.
After a meeting with his Irish counterpart that lasted almost an hour, Mr Blair said: "The taoiseach and I have met this evening. We are agreed first of all on our total shock, horror and outrage of this act of unspeakable evil that has united people everywhere in their condemnation of it.
"We know the emotions of people are those of grief and sympathy for the bereaved and the families of the victims.
"We know also of the anger people will feel.
"For our part we have agreed that the two governments will work together and do everything possible in their power to hunt down those responsible for this outrage.
"Tomorrow morning there will be a meeting between commissioner Pat Byrne and the chief constable of the RUC Ronnie Flanagan.
"They will discuss and reflect upon any measures that can assist us in improving the security of people here and bring terrorists to justice.
"We will obviously consider very carefully and seriously any measures they propose to us.
"In addition however we have now arranged a meeting between the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Minister for Justice from the Irish Republic."
Security sources said the bombers were prepared to kill again and again to try to end the peace process. One called their leader a "ruthless, uncompromising bastard who has no qualms about what he is doing".
The RUC said 26 of the dead had been identified.
At least 10 of the injured were in a critical condition last night.
RUC Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan said yesterday that the victims were deliberately drawn to the blast.
Mr Flanagan said he believed the bombers orchestrated the carnage at Omagh by giving a misleading warning about where the device was planted.
Meanwhile DUP chief Ian Paisley left Hillsborough Castle in a fury last night, saying that he had been snubbed by Tony Blair.
Mr Paisley said that had he had met with Mr Blair, he would say that the Government should stop the "appeasement" of Sinn Fein.
PM visits victims
PRIME Minister Tony Blair last night spoke with injured survivors of the Omagh bombing atrocity.
He spent more than hour at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and at one stage went into the intensive care unit where the critically injured are undergoing treatment. The visit was strictly private.
During his time on the wards he also met with relatives, medical and nursing staff.
Mr Blair, who had earlier met with the Irish Premier Bertie Ahern, visited every ward where the injured were being treated.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/002
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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