GROUP'S SILENCE ON THREAT TO NAME BOMBER
Group's silence on threat to name bomber
By MERVYN PAULEY
LEADING members of a group linked to the Real IRA, which was responsible for the Omagh bombing, yesterday refused to be quizzed about a Tory MP's "name and shame" plans.
They dodged questions about Andrew Hunter's shelved intention to name the bomb-maker and others behind the outrage that killed 29 people and injured more than 200.
The Real IRA called a ceasefire shortly after the bombing and yesterday the 32 County Sovereignty Committee staged its first public demonstration since then.
It was held outside Dublin's Mansion House - to mark the 80th anniversary of the opening session of the first Irish parliament - and drew only 12 people.
The event was all over in 10 minutes after a committee member read the declaration of Irish independence. Supporters of the committee were outnumbered by reporters and Special Branch officers.
Rory Dougan, who chaired the ceremony, described it as "small, but significant".
Committee chairman Francie Mackey, a member of Omagh District Council, was asked about Andrew Hunter's "name and shame" plans.
He replied: "This is a commemoration remembering all those who have given their lives throughout the years and since the declaration of independence, in defence of the independence of the nation declared by the people 80 years ago."
He and other committee figures posed for pictures, but refused to answer further questions.
Meanwhile, the newly-formed Northern Ireland Unionist Party claimed grassroots unionists had been "stunned and disgusted" by the failure of Tory MPs to name republican and loyalist paramilitary enforcers in the Commons.
The four Assemblymen who left Robert McCartney's UKUP insisted terror was still winning in Northern Ireland because Mo Mowlam was afraid to risk the political process by moving against the Godfathers.
They added: "We can only speculate on the pressures applied on Conservative MPs but given the RUC's failure rate in obtaining prosecutions against terrorists, the 'naming and shaming' of the men orchestrating violence is probably the only punishment they are likely to get."
By MERVYN PAULEY
LEADING members of a group linked to the Real IRA, which was responsible for the Omagh bombing, yesterday refused to be quizzed about a Tory MP's "name and shame" plans.
They dodged questions about Andrew Hunter's shelved intention to name the bomb-maker and others behind the outrage that killed 29 people and injured more than 200.
The Real IRA called a ceasefire shortly after the bombing and yesterday the 32 County Sovereignty Committee staged its first public demonstration since then.
It was held outside Dublin's Mansion House - to mark the 80th anniversary of the opening session of the first Irish parliament - and drew only 12 people.
The event was all over in 10 minutes after a committee member read the declaration of Irish independence. Supporters of the committee were outnumbered by reporters and Special Branch officers.
Rory Dougan, who chaired the ceremony, described it as "small, but significant".
Committee chairman Francie Mackey, a member of Omagh District Council, was asked about Andrew Hunter's "name and shame" plans.
He replied: "This is a commemoration remembering all those who have given their lives throughout the years and since the declaration of independence, in defence of the independence of the nation declared by the people 80 years ago."
He and other committee figures posed for pictures, but refused to answer further questions.
Meanwhile, the newly-formed Northern Ireland Unionist Party claimed grassroots unionists had been "stunned and disgusted" by the failure of Tory MPs to name republican and loyalist paramilitary enforcers in the Commons.
The four Assemblymen who left Robert McCartney's UKUP insisted terror was still winning in Northern Ireland because Mo Mowlam was afraid to risk the political process by moving against the Godfathers.
They added: "We can only speculate on the pressures applied on Conservative MPs but given the RUC's failure rate in obtaining prosecutions against terrorists, the 'naming and shaming' of the men orchestrating violence is probably the only punishment they are likely to get."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/184
Published Date: 22-Jan-99
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