LET THIS BE THE LAST OUTRAGE IN ULSTER PLEA
Let this be the last outrage in Ulster plea
ULSTER Unionist William Thompson, whose West Tyrone constituency includes Omagh, yesterday pleaded in an emotional Commons speech for this to be the last such bomb outrage in the Province.
He told the House, in exchanges after the Prime Minister's statement on terrorism: "Every decent person in Northern Ireland wants this bomb to be the last. We never want to see a bomb outrage like this again."
But Mr Thompson, who was allowed by Speaker Betty Boothroyd to speak at much greater length than usually permitted after statements, said the measures being introduced were not enough.
He welcomed "as far as they go, the changes that are going to be made in the law in order to help to defeat terrorism. Of course, it is too late and too little."
Mr Thompson spoke in harrowing terms of the day the bombers struck in Omagh and played a warm tribute to the efforts of the emergency services.
He said: "Omagh is in my constituency. Indeed, it is my home town. I was born close to it and have spent all my life there.
"It is a town where people have always got on well together."
Mr Thompson said Saturday, August 15 was a busy day in the town, with many mothers and children together buying school uniforms.
The MP spoke of how a policeman made his way down to Market Street after the bomb went off.
"He was not prepared for what he met because it was utter carnage. He and his fellow police colleagues were met with sights that were horrific, the screams for help, the mangled bodies, the terrible injuries and blood everywhere.
"A water main had burst and was washing parts of bodies down the side of the street.
"These sights no doubt will remain with them and with other officers who were quickly on the scene to help. These memories come back in their sleep at night as they again relive the events that they saw."
ULSTER Unionist William Thompson, whose West Tyrone constituency includes Omagh, yesterday pleaded in an emotional Commons speech for this to be the last such bomb outrage in the Province.
He told the House, in exchanges after the Prime Minister's statement on terrorism: "Every decent person in Northern Ireland wants this bomb to be the last. We never want to see a bomb outrage like this again."
But Mr Thompson, who was allowed by Speaker Betty Boothroyd to speak at much greater length than usually permitted after statements, said the measures being introduced were not enough.
He welcomed "as far as they go, the changes that are going to be made in the law in order to help to defeat terrorism. Of course, it is too late and too little."
Mr Thompson spoke in harrowing terms of the day the bombers struck in Omagh and played a warm tribute to the efforts of the emergency services.
He said: "Omagh is in my constituency. Indeed, it is my home town. I was born close to it and have spent all my life there.
"It is a town where people have always got on well together."
Mr Thompson said Saturday, August 15 was a busy day in the town, with many mothers and children together buying school uniforms.
The MP spoke of how a policeman made his way down to Market Street after the bomb went off.
"He was not prepared for what he met because it was utter carnage. He and his fellow police colleagues were met with sights that were horrific, the screams for help, the mangled bodies, the terrible injuries and blood everywhere.
"A water main had burst and was washing parts of bodies down the side of the street.
"These sights no doubt will remain with them and with other officers who were quickly on the scene to help. These memories come back in their sleep at night as they again relive the events that they saw."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/124
Published Date: 03-Sep-98
Related Images
