FAIT NAMING FURORE
Fait 'naming' furore
McKenna called in by bosses
By Lindsay Fergus
ANTI-terror group Fait has been rocked by another internal row after development officer Vincent McKenna named those allegedly behind the Omagh bomb.
It is the latest problem to hit the voluntary group just four months after Glyn Roberts resigned after a difference of opinion with the board.
Despite fierce criticism from Fait's management committee, Mr McKenna, who at the weekend claimed the IRA sanctioned the Omagh bomb, has defended his actions.
"I do not regret what I did. I would do it again tomorrow," he said.
However, the management committee of the Belfast based group are anything but happy with Mr McKenna, who has been ordered to give a full account of what occurred at Saturday's UKUP conference.
Mr McKenna, who believes the whole situation has been "absolutely blown out of proportion", only learned he had been summoned to address the management committee after watching a news bulletin on the television.
The Belfast man said he was "upset by the way the management committee conducted its business through the media".
Although Mr McKenna claims his controversial comments were made from personal experience as an ex-IRA member and not on behalf of Fait, the management committee warned him prior to the conference that "any remarks made, even in a personal capacity, will have implications for Fait".
Renowned for his hard-hitting words against paramilitary groupings, Mr McKenna said: "It is an insult to the people of Omagh to suggest arms were taken by dissidents from the IRA for use in Omagh without sanction of the IRA.
"Who will know the names of those behind Omagh except the people at that conference? If they are ever charged, they will never be tried in a jury court. What does it matter what the public know about them? A judge, who is suppose to be objective and legally minded, will hear the case," he said.
Mr McKenna who believes "people have got a bit excited because I have done something that the NIO does not approve of" said "I do not say very much that I do not have evidence to back up."
However, Sam Cushnahan, director of Fait, is adamant that the organisation has no evidence to support Mr McKenna's claim that the Omagh attack had the sanction of the IRA.
Describing the comments as "unhelpful", Mr Cushnahan said: "Fait did not authorise the remarks of Vincent McKenna about Omagh at the UKUP conference nor his subsequent press interviews. "Alleged suspects should not be named publicly while police investigations continue. Fait will be asking Mr McKenna for a full account of what occurred at the UKUP conference and for a written copy of his remarks."
McKenna called in by bosses
By Lindsay Fergus
ANTI-terror group Fait has been rocked by another internal row after development officer Vincent McKenna named those allegedly behind the Omagh bomb.
It is the latest problem to hit the voluntary group just four months after Glyn Roberts resigned after a difference of opinion with the board.
Despite fierce criticism from Fait's management committee, Mr McKenna, who at the weekend claimed the IRA sanctioned the Omagh bomb, has defended his actions.
"I do not regret what I did. I would do it again tomorrow," he said.
However, the management committee of the Belfast based group are anything but happy with Mr McKenna, who has been ordered to give a full account of what occurred at Saturday's UKUP conference.
Mr McKenna, who believes the whole situation has been "absolutely blown out of proportion", only learned he had been summoned to address the management committee after watching a news bulletin on the television.
The Belfast man said he was "upset by the way the management committee conducted its business through the media".
Although Mr McKenna claims his controversial comments were made from personal experience as an ex-IRA member and not on behalf of Fait, the management committee warned him prior to the conference that "any remarks made, even in a personal capacity, will have implications for Fait".
Renowned for his hard-hitting words against paramilitary groupings, Mr McKenna said: "It is an insult to the people of Omagh to suggest arms were taken by dissidents from the IRA for use in Omagh without sanction of the IRA.
"Who will know the names of those behind Omagh except the people at that conference? If they are ever charged, they will never be tried in a jury court. What does it matter what the public know about them? A judge, who is suppose to be objective and legally minded, will hear the case," he said.
Mr McKenna who believes "people have got a bit excited because I have done something that the NIO does not approve of" said "I do not say very much that I do not have evidence to back up."
However, Sam Cushnahan, director of Fait, is adamant that the organisation has no evidence to support Mr McKenna's claim that the Omagh attack had the sanction of the IRA.
Describing the comments as "unhelpful", Mr Cushnahan said: "Fait did not authorise the remarks of Vincent McKenna about Omagh at the UKUP conference nor his subsequent press interviews. "Alleged suspects should not be named publicly while police investigations continue. Fait will be asking Mr McKenna for a full account of what occurred at the UKUP conference and for a written copy of his remarks."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/197
Published Date: 09-Feb-99
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