NIO-EIRE MOVE ON BOMBERS PLANNED
NIO-Eire move on bombers planned
NORTHERN Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam emerged from a meeting with Eire Justice Minister John O'Donoghue at Stormont last night to pledge a three-pronged drive against the terrorists behind the Omagh bomb atrocity.
She said that measures to make it easier to secure convictions against members of proscribed organisations had dominated the discussions.
Security forces in both countries would step up operations in border areas, she said.
She added that "a whole host" of unspecified other measures involving complex legal issues would be suggested to the two Prime Ministers.
Mr O'Donoghue, asked whether they were contemplating the re-introduction of internment, said that "no option which results in people being taken off the streets has been ruled out", but said it was the issue of securing convictions for membership which was the main priority.
Ms Mowlam said: "Internment is still an option - we haven't ruled it out, we haven't ruled it in."
However, she said, the measure had had "serious difficulties" in the past and she herself was not a supporter.
Mr O'Donoghue said: "It is the wish of people everywhere that we will ensure that people such as these do not have the opportunity again of carrying out such a horrific crime.
"People will expect us to try to take those people off the streets. That is a task for each government on each side of the border.
"No government alone can unilaterally hope to succeed. We must fight this together."
SDLP leader John Hume said last night he believed any steps taken by the governments would get the support of the whole community.
Last night, Tony Blair telephoned his Eire counterpart Bertie Ahern to discuss proposals put forward by the police chiefs following their meeting yesterday morning.
The INLA was under pressure last night to declare a ceasefire following a call for a cessation by the organisation's political wing, the Irish Republican Socialist Party. Mo Mowlam immediately welcomed it and said last night: "We very much hope that the INLA will respond positively."
Earlier, on a visit to Omagh, Mo Mowlam said: "I just can't get out of my head the pain, the suffering that is going on. That is overwhelming."
Of the 'Real IRA', the group suspected of the bombing, they were only talking about 20 or 30 people. she said.
NORTHERN Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam emerged from a meeting with Eire Justice Minister John O'Donoghue at Stormont last night to pledge a three-pronged drive against the terrorists behind the Omagh bomb atrocity.
She said that measures to make it easier to secure convictions against members of proscribed organisations had dominated the discussions.
Security forces in both countries would step up operations in border areas, she said.
She added that "a whole host" of unspecified other measures involving complex legal issues would be suggested to the two Prime Ministers.
Mr O'Donoghue, asked whether they were contemplating the re-introduction of internment, said that "no option which results in people being taken off the streets has been ruled out", but said it was the issue of securing convictions for membership which was the main priority.
Ms Mowlam said: "Internment is still an option - we haven't ruled it out, we haven't ruled it in."
However, she said, the measure had had "serious difficulties" in the past and she herself was not a supporter.
Mr O'Donoghue said: "It is the wish of people everywhere that we will ensure that people such as these do not have the opportunity again of carrying out such a horrific crime.
"People will expect us to try to take those people off the streets. That is a task for each government on each side of the border.
"No government alone can unilaterally hope to succeed. We must fight this together."
SDLP leader John Hume said last night he believed any steps taken by the governments would get the support of the whole community.
Last night, Tony Blair telephoned his Eire counterpart Bertie Ahern to discuss proposals put forward by the police chiefs following their meeting yesterday morning.
The INLA was under pressure last night to declare a ceasefire following a call for a cessation by the organisation's political wing, the Irish Republican Socialist Party. Mo Mowlam immediately welcomed it and said last night: "We very much hope that the INLA will respond positively."
Earlier, on a visit to Omagh, Mo Mowlam said: "I just can't get out of my head the pain, the suffering that is going on. That is overwhelming."
Of the 'Real IRA', the group suspected of the bombing, they were only talking about 20 or 30 people. she said.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/056
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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