COUNCILLOR AN ABSCESS ON OMAGH
Councillor 'an abscess on Omagh'
By LINDSAY FERGUS
LAWRENCE. Rush, who lost his wife in the Omagh bomb, has expressed his disgust at a leading republican's continued presence within the local authority.
The heartbroken widower, whose life crumbled the day his soul mate Libbi was murdered, has hit out at Omagh councillor Francis Mackey.
Chairman of renegade republican group the 32 County Sovereign Committee, Mr Mackey was the only Omagh councillor who failed to condemn the 500lb car bomb which claimed the lives of 29 people.
Repulsed by the councillor's refusal to condemn the carnage which took place on his own doorstep, Mr Rush said he "found his presence on the council as a definite personal insult. He is an abscess on this town. I do not know, bow. he can show his face."
Mr Rush, who described his life as a disaster, said: "I am very angry this person is still performing a public service."
Adamant the tide of hatred had turned against the 32-County Sovereignty Committee Chairman, whose grouping is allegedly linked to the Real IRA, Mr Rush said negative feelings about Mr Mackey were "very widespread".
However, the devastated widower said he doubted Cllr Mackey would "have the common decency to do the right thing and resign".
Mr Rush, who never mentions Francis Mackey by name, said: "If he does not understand the strength of feeling against him, he will certainly discover it."
Two months to the day after the horrific tragedy, Lawrence Rush is struggling to get through each day without the person who was the centre of his universe.
"I am a disaster at the minute. I go up and down. I have no idea where I am going. Everything in my life was pointed towards my wife and now I have lost her.
"All that keeps me going is that 99 per cent of the people are determined to move on. The bomber's day has gone," he said.
By LINDSAY FERGUS
LAWRENCE. Rush, who lost his wife in the Omagh bomb, has expressed his disgust at a leading republican's continued presence within the local authority.
The heartbroken widower, whose life crumbled the day his soul mate Libbi was murdered, has hit out at Omagh councillor Francis Mackey.
Chairman of renegade republican group the 32 County Sovereign Committee, Mr Mackey was the only Omagh councillor who failed to condemn the 500lb car bomb which claimed the lives of 29 people.
Repulsed by the councillor's refusal to condemn the carnage which took place on his own doorstep, Mr Rush said he "found his presence on the council as a definite personal insult. He is an abscess on this town. I do not know, bow. he can show his face."
Mr Rush, who described his life as a disaster, said: "I am very angry this person is still performing a public service."
Adamant the tide of hatred had turned against the 32-County Sovereignty Committee Chairman, whose grouping is allegedly linked to the Real IRA, Mr Rush said negative feelings about Mr Mackey were "very widespread".
However, the devastated widower said he doubted Cllr Mackey would "have the common decency to do the right thing and resign".
Mr Rush, who never mentions Francis Mackey by name, said: "If he does not understand the strength of feeling against him, he will certainly discover it."
Two months to the day after the horrific tragedy, Lawrence Rush is struggling to get through each day without the person who was the centre of his universe.
"I am a disaster at the minute. I go up and down. I have no idea where I am going. Everything in my life was pointed towards my wife and now I have lost her.
"All that keeps me going is that 99 per cent of the people are determined to move on. The bomber's day has gone," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/342
Published Date: 15-Oct-98
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