WE'LL HUNT BOMB KILLERS
Blair pledge as Real IRA calls truce
By MERVYN PAULEY
THERE will be no let-up in the hunt for the Omagh bombers despite the ceasefire announcement by the self-styled Real IRA, the London and Dublin governments vowed yesterday.
The RUC followed up on the two Governments' pledge by saying it would "relentlessly" pursue those behind the bombing.
The Real IRA, whose car-bomb killed 29 people and Injured and maimed more than 200 others in the Co Tyrone town, bowed to mounting pressure and declared a total ceasefire in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The RUC gave the "permanent ceasefire" a qualified welcome but added: "We will continue relentlessly our investigations into the Omagh atrocity and other illegal activities." The RUC statement said the vast majority of people had made it clear they wanted an end to all terrorism. "To that extent ceasefires by paramilitary groups are the first step to ending totally unjustified violence for good.
"Ceasefires in themselves are not of course, a guarantee of peace and we once again call on all organisations and all individuals involved in violence from whatever quarter to stop doing what they should never have been doing in the first place."
Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "We are always pleased of course if people stopped the violence that they should never have been perpetrating but we will continue to pursue those responsible for the Omagh bomb, those who organised it, those carried it out.
'And as I keep reminding people there is no provision at all for any early release of anyone who has committed an offence after April 10, which was when the peace agreement was signed."
Eire premier Bertie Ahern insisted the tough new anti-terror legislation, allied to the people's outcry after the atrocity, had brought about the Real IRA move.
"It looks like a complete and final end," he said.
"If this statement is followed through by them - which I assume it will be - it is an important and significant step."
Mr Ahern stressed the authorities would maintain efforts to track down the bombers.
He hoped the Real IRA would disband "in due time".
He said that to be able to get into a situation where the Good Friday Agreement could work in a normal way, the Continuity IRA, which was still involved in violence, should state its position.
"We need to know in relation to the efforts we are making to crush paramilitary violence in this country," he said.
"There is no room for it any more. The people have answered in the May referendum."
The Northern Ireland Office said: "We welcome any ceasefire, including that of the Real IRA, and providing that it is complete and unequivocal. We shall be watching carefully to see if the Real IRA ceasefire is matched my word and deed.
"The police will continue to seek those responsible for the Omagh atrocity and other crimes."
Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin disagreed that the London-Dublin anti-terrorist laws had forced the Real IRA move, which he welcomed.
He said: "This group responded to the political pressure that was out on them, not the measures taken by the two governments."
Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble welcomed the ceasefire announcement but said it did not lake away from the horror of what the Real IRA had done in Omagh.
He said: "I am glad that these people have come to their senses and realised the futility of their actions.
"That doesn't change the enormity of what they have done and their culpability for it."
In Omagh itself there was relief. Alan Rainey, deputy chairman of the district council, said the ceasefire was "music to my ears and to many others".
But the bombers must be brought to justice.
Progressive Unionist Party chief David Ervine said a ceasefire was better than no ceasefire but he was "loath to welcome it given the price that had to be paid in order for it to be achieved - the deaths and injuries at Omagh".
He thought it was an indication that those who believed violence was the way were having the ground taken from under them.
"The will of the people, the attitude of the two governments and indeed the attitude of the IRA in this instance, have all made the ground that the Real IRA want to stand on very narrow."
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson was sceptical about the ceasefire declaration.
"Our position is that ceasefires are determined by the absence of violence and we would not take the word of any terrorist organisation, we will simply monitor what occurs," he said.
SDLP leader John Hume said the ceasefire must mark a permanent end to violence in Ireland.
"All of us involved in the political process must now dedicate all our energies towards building new political institutions which will be an eternal monument to the victims of our troubles," he said.
Joe Byrne, an SDLP councillor in Omagh, said: 'Thank God that at long last the people involved in the Real IRA have called a ceasefire.
'The revulsion of the Irish people has very much concentrated the minds of all of the republican movement and I think that is very welcome."
Tory leader William Hague welcomed the Real IRA's decision but insisted that those responsible for the bombing must be brought to justice. "Let's hope they mean it," he said.
Ulster Unionist security spokesman Ken Maginnis also welcomed the ceasefire but said it was hard not to believe the move was based on hopes of "self-preservation" by the Real IRA.
He underlined the urgent need for terrorist groups to give up their weapons.
Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson saw the declaration as a signal that another obstacle to peace might have been removed.
He said attention must now turn to the continuing conflict over the Drumcree parade in Portadown, which still divided the community and threatened disorder.
By MERVYN PAULEY
THERE will be no let-up in the hunt for the Omagh bombers despite the ceasefire announcement by the self-styled Real IRA, the London and Dublin governments vowed yesterday.
The RUC followed up on the two Governments' pledge by saying it would "relentlessly" pursue those behind the bombing.
The Real IRA, whose car-bomb killed 29 people and Injured and maimed more than 200 others in the Co Tyrone town, bowed to mounting pressure and declared a total ceasefire in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The RUC gave the "permanent ceasefire" a qualified welcome but added: "We will continue relentlessly our investigations into the Omagh atrocity and other illegal activities." The RUC statement said the vast majority of people had made it clear they wanted an end to all terrorism. "To that extent ceasefires by paramilitary groups are the first step to ending totally unjustified violence for good.
"Ceasefires in themselves are not of course, a guarantee of peace and we once again call on all organisations and all individuals involved in violence from whatever quarter to stop doing what they should never have been doing in the first place."
Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "We are always pleased of course if people stopped the violence that they should never have been perpetrating but we will continue to pursue those responsible for the Omagh bomb, those who organised it, those carried it out.
'And as I keep reminding people there is no provision at all for any early release of anyone who has committed an offence after April 10, which was when the peace agreement was signed."
Eire premier Bertie Ahern insisted the tough new anti-terror legislation, allied to the people's outcry after the atrocity, had brought about the Real IRA move.
"It looks like a complete and final end," he said.
"If this statement is followed through by them - which I assume it will be - it is an important and significant step."
Mr Ahern stressed the authorities would maintain efforts to track down the bombers.
He hoped the Real IRA would disband "in due time".
He said that to be able to get into a situation where the Good Friday Agreement could work in a normal way, the Continuity IRA, which was still involved in violence, should state its position.
"We need to know in relation to the efforts we are making to crush paramilitary violence in this country," he said.
"There is no room for it any more. The people have answered in the May referendum."
The Northern Ireland Office said: "We welcome any ceasefire, including that of the Real IRA, and providing that it is complete and unequivocal. We shall be watching carefully to see if the Real IRA ceasefire is matched my word and deed.
"The police will continue to seek those responsible for the Omagh atrocity and other crimes."
Sinn Fein chairman Mitchel McLaughlin disagreed that the London-Dublin anti-terrorist laws had forced the Real IRA move, which he welcomed.
He said: "This group responded to the political pressure that was out on them, not the measures taken by the two governments."
Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble welcomed the ceasefire announcement but said it did not lake away from the horror of what the Real IRA had done in Omagh.
He said: "I am glad that these people have come to their senses and realised the futility of their actions.
"That doesn't change the enormity of what they have done and their culpability for it."
In Omagh itself there was relief. Alan Rainey, deputy chairman of the district council, said the ceasefire was "music to my ears and to many others".
But the bombers must be brought to justice.
Progressive Unionist Party chief David Ervine said a ceasefire was better than no ceasefire but he was "loath to welcome it given the price that had to be paid in order for it to be achieved - the deaths and injuries at Omagh".
He thought it was an indication that those who believed violence was the way were having the ground taken from under them.
"The will of the people, the attitude of the two governments and indeed the attitude of the IRA in this instance, have all made the ground that the Real IRA want to stand on very narrow."
DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson was sceptical about the ceasefire declaration.
"Our position is that ceasefires are determined by the absence of violence and we would not take the word of any terrorist organisation, we will simply monitor what occurs," he said.
SDLP leader John Hume said the ceasefire must mark a permanent end to violence in Ireland.
"All of us involved in the political process must now dedicate all our energies towards building new political institutions which will be an eternal monument to the victims of our troubles," he said.
Joe Byrne, an SDLP councillor in Omagh, said: 'Thank God that at long last the people involved in the Real IRA have called a ceasefire.
'The revulsion of the Irish people has very much concentrated the minds of all of the republican movement and I think that is very welcome."
Tory leader William Hague welcomed the Real IRA's decision but insisted that those responsible for the bombing must be brought to justice. "Let's hope they mean it," he said.
Ulster Unionist security spokesman Ken Maginnis also welcomed the ceasefire but said it was hard not to believe the move was based on hopes of "self-preservation" by the Real IRA.
He underlined the urgent need for terrorist groups to give up their weapons.
Alliance Party leader Sean Neeson saw the declaration as a signal that another obstacle to peace might have been removed.
He said attention must now turn to the continuing conflict over the Drumcree parade in Portadown, which still divided the community and threatened disorder.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/291
Published Date: 09-Sep-98
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