GET OVER GUN ISSUE SAYS OMAGH LEADER
Get over gun issue says Omagh leader
AN OMAGH representative yesterday delivered an "irresistible" demand from his town for the two sides locked in the row over paramilitary weaponry to resolve their differences.
Pat MacDonnell, a member of John Hume's Social Democratic and Labour Party and an Omagh District councillor, said: "Decommissioning must be sorted out. Omagh demands it. Ireland demands it."
Speaking in Dublin where members of the city's business community have provided a two-day respite for 50 survivors of the bombing, Mr MacDonnell spoke of expectations that the attack which killed 29 would be Northern Ireland's final atrocity.
"The bombers who came to Omagh on the Feast of the Assumption came with one aim in in mind: to destroy the peace process.
"They have failed miserably. That atrocity has generated an anger and determination that I believe is irresistible.
"The desire of the people of Ireland, from Derry to Cork, Galway to Dublin is irresistible. The emphatic demand that Omagh is the end of this period of history is irresistible."
Recent weeks have seen the peace process stall on demands for paramilitary groups to start dismantling their stockpiles of weapons.
Northern Ireland First Minister and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has maintained he cannot allow Sinn Fein into the new ruling Executive until the process is under way.
But republicans claim he will be in breach of the Good Friday Agreement if the ministers are not appointed by the deadline of October 31.
Mr MacDonnell told a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Joe Doyle, at his official residence, the Mansion House, that no political party had a right "to place a barrier to the progress of the Irish nation".
He said Omagh demanded that the two parties wrangling over decommissioning sort their differences out.
"There is no reverse gear in the peace process. The people of Ireland demand that and if that means a personal sacrifice, a swallowing of pride, I and the people of Omagh say swallow that pride and get on with the job.
"If we get past this, great times lie ahead."
The trip to Dublin was organised by members of the business community from the north side of the city centre as a demonstration of goodwill as well as respite for the people of Omagh, in one of Europe's most popular city-break destinations.
The North Inner City Business Association - which secured free accommodation, dinners and entertainment from hotels, restaurants, cinemas and theatres - plans to repeat the exercise on a larger scale in the new year.
Among the participants was the young woman caught up in the explosion who gave birth to a baby girl five days later.
Nicola Emery, 21, accompanied by her mother Valerie and baby Chloe Hope Valerie, 10 weeks old today, said she still suffered nightmares about the bombing.
Michelle Mimnagh, 17, who lost a leg in the atrocity, and 16 year-old Maura McManus, who suffered shattered bones and shrapnel injuries to her foot, said the trip provided a welcome break for survivors.
"We've got a lovely welcome here," said Michelle.
Maura added: "It's good to be away with other people who have been in the same situation. It helps to talk about it."
AN OMAGH representative yesterday delivered an "irresistible" demand from his town for the two sides locked in the row over paramilitary weaponry to resolve their differences.
Pat MacDonnell, a member of John Hume's Social Democratic and Labour Party and an Omagh District councillor, said: "Decommissioning must be sorted out. Omagh demands it. Ireland demands it."
Speaking in Dublin where members of the city's business community have provided a two-day respite for 50 survivors of the bombing, Mr MacDonnell spoke of expectations that the attack which killed 29 would be Northern Ireland's final atrocity.
"The bombers who came to Omagh on the Feast of the Assumption came with one aim in in mind: to destroy the peace process.
"They have failed miserably. That atrocity has generated an anger and determination that I believe is irresistible.
"The desire of the people of Ireland, from Derry to Cork, Galway to Dublin is irresistible. The emphatic demand that Omagh is the end of this period of history is irresistible."
Recent weeks have seen the peace process stall on demands for paramilitary groups to start dismantling their stockpiles of weapons.
Northern Ireland First Minister and Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble has maintained he cannot allow Sinn Fein into the new ruling Executive until the process is under way.
But republicans claim he will be in breach of the Good Friday Agreement if the ministers are not appointed by the deadline of October 31.
Mr MacDonnell told a reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Joe Doyle, at his official residence, the Mansion House, that no political party had a right "to place a barrier to the progress of the Irish nation".
He said Omagh demanded that the two parties wrangling over decommissioning sort their differences out.
"There is no reverse gear in the peace process. The people of Ireland demand that and if that means a personal sacrifice, a swallowing of pride, I and the people of Omagh say swallow that pride and get on with the job.
"If we get past this, great times lie ahead."
The trip to Dublin was organised by members of the business community from the north side of the city centre as a demonstration of goodwill as well as respite for the people of Omagh, in one of Europe's most popular city-break destinations.
The North Inner City Business Association - which secured free accommodation, dinners and entertainment from hotels, restaurants, cinemas and theatres - plans to repeat the exercise on a larger scale in the new year.
Among the participants was the young woman caught up in the explosion who gave birth to a baby girl five days later.
Nicola Emery, 21, accompanied by her mother Valerie and baby Chloe Hope Valerie, 10 weeks old today, said she still suffered nightmares about the bombing.
Michelle Mimnagh, 17, who lost a leg in the atrocity, and 16 year-old Maura McManus, who suffered shattered bones and shrapnel injuries to her foot, said the trip provided a welcome break for survivors.
"We've got a lovely welcome here," said Michelle.
Maura added: "It's good to be away with other people who have been in the same situation. It helps to talk about it."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/354
Published Date: 29-Oct-98
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