BLAST ARREST WAS POLITICAL
Blast arrest 'was political'
THE republican councillor arrested in connection with the Omagh bombing yesterday claimed his arrest had been politically motivated.
Speaking at a Press conference near Dundalk, Francie Mackey said his detention was "a blatant attempt to quell growing political opposition to the Stormont deal with repression".
Mr Mackey, 44, who resigned from Sinn Fein to chair the 32 Counties Sovereignty Movement, was arrested on Monday and released on Wednesday after being questioned at Strand Road RUC station in Londonderry.
Mr Mackey, accompanied by Bernadette Sands-McKevitt and Rory Dougan, claimed none of the others arrested were members of their organisation.
Mr Mackey said: "This latest political round-up, like the orchestrated attempts at vilifying leaders of the Sovereignty Movement or the political abductions, are part of the strategy designed to intimidate republicans from engaging in open political debate and joining us.
"These tactics are doomed to failure as recent growth in our movement has shown."
Earlier this week the first man to be charged with last August's Omagh blast - that killed 29 people and injured around 300 in the Co Tyrone town - appeared in Dublin's anti-terrorist Special Criminal Court.
Colm Murphy, 48, originally from Co Armagh, but with an address in Co Louth, was remanded in custody until next month accused of conspiracy to cause an explosion and membership of an illegal organisation.
He was among a number of men held for questioning about the Omagh incident on both sides of the border this week. All have now been released.
The Omagh attack was carried out by the Real IRA, the reputed military wing of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee. The Real IRA declared a ceasefire soon after the outrage.
THE republican councillor arrested in connection with the Omagh bombing yesterday claimed his arrest had been politically motivated.
Speaking at a Press conference near Dundalk, Francie Mackey said his detention was "a blatant attempt to quell growing political opposition to the Stormont deal with repression".
Mr Mackey, 44, who resigned from Sinn Fein to chair the 32 Counties Sovereignty Movement, was arrested on Monday and released on Wednesday after being questioned at Strand Road RUC station in Londonderry.
Mr Mackey, accompanied by Bernadette Sands-McKevitt and Rory Dougan, claimed none of the others arrested were members of their organisation.
Mr Mackey said: "This latest political round-up, like the orchestrated attempts at vilifying leaders of the Sovereignty Movement or the political abductions, are part of the strategy designed to intimidate republicans from engaging in open political debate and joining us.
"These tactics are doomed to failure as recent growth in our movement has shown."
Earlier this week the first man to be charged with last August's Omagh blast - that killed 29 people and injured around 300 in the Co Tyrone town - appeared in Dublin's anti-terrorist Special Criminal Court.
Colm Murphy, 48, originally from Co Armagh, but with an address in Co Louth, was remanded in custody until next month accused of conspiracy to cause an explosion and membership of an illegal organisation.
He was among a number of men held for questioning about the Omagh incident on both sides of the border this week. All have now been released.
The Omagh attack was carried out by the Real IRA, the reputed military wing of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee. The Real IRA declared a ceasefire soon after the outrage.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/213
Published Date: 27-Feb-99
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