SOVEREIGNTY CHIEF ESCORTED FROM DUNDALK SHOP
Sovereignty chief escorted from Dundalk shop
BERNADETTE Sands-McKevitt was escorted from her premises in a shopping centre at Dundalk yesterday by security guards.
The move was understood to have been made to avoid a possible breach of the peace after the bombing of Omagh by the Real IRA.
Ms Sands-McKevitt, vice-chairperson of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee- which has been linked to the paramilitary Real IRA - runs a shop called The Print Junction in Dundalk's Long Walk shopping centre.
Management there would make no comment on the development, but confirmed Ms Sands-McKevitt was not at the centre.
Earlier this week Ms Sands-McKevitt, speaking live on Eire radio, condemned the Omagh bombing, which killed 28 people and left more than 200 injured.
Also this week, she and Michael McKevitt moved their three young children out of their home at Blackrock, near Dundalk, following protests about the terrorist attack by townspeople.
Michael McKevitt earlier told a Roman Catholic priest that he had "no hand, act or part" in the bombing.
It was understood that Ms Sands-McKevitt arrived at her shop -which sells T-shirts, family heraldry plaques and tourist items -yesterday morning to find that the locks had been changed.
The move followed pressure from other traders at the shopping centre for the Print Junction to pull out.
Business at the complex generally was reported by tenants to have slumped dramatically since the link between the McKevitts and the bombing outrage was alleged early this week.
In a further connected development, a Dundalk firm of solicitors said legal action was being taken over reports about Mr McKevitt and his partner.
In a statement the Mac Guill and Company law firm said: "We have been consulted by our clients Michael and Bernadette McKevitt in relation to various false and defamatory statements published of them in the media in recent days.
"Our clients are in addition being requested on a practically hourly basis to make statements to the media.
"We have advised our clients that in the light of the gravity of the defamatory material that it will be necessary for them to take proceedings and they have instructed us to take the necessary action.
"For that reason, our clients, on our advice, are making no comment pending determination of those proceedings.
"Our clients should not be approached for interviews, as no interview will be forthcoming.
"Our clients have indicated that any further contact should be made through us."
BERNADETTE Sands-McKevitt was escorted from her premises in a shopping centre at Dundalk yesterday by security guards.
The move was understood to have been made to avoid a possible breach of the peace after the bombing of Omagh by the Real IRA.
Ms Sands-McKevitt, vice-chairperson of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee- which has been linked to the paramilitary Real IRA - runs a shop called The Print Junction in Dundalk's Long Walk shopping centre.
Management there would make no comment on the development, but confirmed Ms Sands-McKevitt was not at the centre.
Earlier this week Ms Sands-McKevitt, speaking live on Eire radio, condemned the Omagh bombing, which killed 28 people and left more than 200 injured.
Also this week, she and Michael McKevitt moved their three young children out of their home at Blackrock, near Dundalk, following protests about the terrorist attack by townspeople.
Michael McKevitt earlier told a Roman Catholic priest that he had "no hand, act or part" in the bombing.
It was understood that Ms Sands-McKevitt arrived at her shop -which sells T-shirts, family heraldry plaques and tourist items -yesterday morning to find that the locks had been changed.
The move followed pressure from other traders at the shopping centre for the Print Junction to pull out.
Business at the complex generally was reported by tenants to have slumped dramatically since the link between the McKevitts and the bombing outrage was alleged early this week.
In a further connected development, a Dundalk firm of solicitors said legal action was being taken over reports about Mr McKevitt and his partner.
In a statement the Mac Guill and Company law firm said: "We have been consulted by our clients Michael and Bernadette McKevitt in relation to various false and defamatory statements published of them in the media in recent days.
"Our clients are in addition being requested on a practically hourly basis to make statements to the media.
"We have advised our clients that in the light of the gravity of the defamatory material that it will be necessary for them to take proceedings and they have instructed us to take the necessary action.
"For that reason, our clients, on our advice, are making no comment pending determination of those proceedings.
"Our clients should not be approached for interviews, as no interview will be forthcoming.
"Our clients have indicated that any further contact should be made through us."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/089
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
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