THE SEARCH FOR JUSTICE CONTINUES
The search for justice continues
FAMILIES of terrorist victims of the Troubles have reacted differently on how they should deal with their grief and relate to those who carried out the violent and evil deeds.
Most, if not all of these families, naturally demand justice in some form that will bring about an easing of their pain, and allow them to get on with their lives.
Complete forgiveness for the perpetrators of terrorist atrocities is a path which a few grieving relatives have courageously taken. But it is understandable that many families whose relatives were massacred in the most heinous way in events such as the Omagh bombing would find this a very difficult, almost impossible, attitude to adopt.
"Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son, James, was one of the 29 people killed by the Real IRA in Omagh on August 15,1998, has clearly not forgiven the dissident republican organisation for causing so much torment and suffering to his family, and he too is looking for justice.
But, somehow, he has managed to find the strength to directly confront the political representatives of the terror group with an impassioned call on them to bring about an immediate end to the murderous activities.
Victor Barker's meeting in Dublin last December with the 32 County Sovereignty movement, which acts as a political front for the Real IRA, may have had no effect on dangerous zealots committed to a violent terror campaign aimed at overturning democracy and ending the British presence in Northern Ireland.
He may be seen in some circles as a man who is well-meaning, but naive.
However, one cannot dispute the right of Victor Barker to seek answers from the people close to the bombers who were responsible for his son's death. His loss and continued suffering, with that of his family, may not have been completely lost on those whom he met.
Only one person has been convicted of the Omagh atrocity, while a second man is facing charges in relation to the attack. Police inquiries, on both sides of the border, are far from complete into this most awful of crimes and there has got to be hope for the families of the 29 innocent victims that justice will not only be done, but be seen to be done.
This can only come about through a concerted effort by both the British and Irish governments to apprehend all of the culprits, with full co-operation from members of the public who may have information on the movements of the Real IRA gang who carried out the indiscriminate bombing in Omagh town centre.
FAMILIES of terrorist victims of the Troubles have reacted differently on how they should deal with their grief and relate to those who carried out the violent and evil deeds.
Most, if not all of these families, naturally demand justice in some form that will bring about an easing of their pain, and allow them to get on with their lives.
Complete forgiveness for the perpetrators of terrorist atrocities is a path which a few grieving relatives have courageously taken. But it is understandable that many families whose relatives were massacred in the most heinous way in events such as the Omagh bombing would find this a very difficult, almost impossible, attitude to adopt.
"Victor Barker, whose 12-year-old son, James, was one of the 29 people killed by the Real IRA in Omagh on August 15,1998, has clearly not forgiven the dissident republican organisation for causing so much torment and suffering to his family, and he too is looking for justice.
But, somehow, he has managed to find the strength to directly confront the political representatives of the terror group with an impassioned call on them to bring about an immediate end to the murderous activities.
Victor Barker's meeting in Dublin last December with the 32 County Sovereignty movement, which acts as a political front for the Real IRA, may have had no effect on dangerous zealots committed to a violent terror campaign aimed at overturning democracy and ending the British presence in Northern Ireland.
He may be seen in some circles as a man who is well-meaning, but naive.
However, one cannot dispute the right of Victor Barker to seek answers from the people close to the bombers who were responsible for his son's death. His loss and continued suffering, with that of his family, may not have been completely lost on those whom he met.
Only one person has been convicted of the Omagh atrocity, while a second man is facing charges in relation to the attack. Police inquiries, on both sides of the border, are far from complete into this most awful of crimes and there has got to be hope for the families of the 29 innocent victims that justice will not only be done, but be seen to be done.
This can only come about through a concerted effort by both the British and Irish governments to apprehend all of the culprits, with full co-operation from members of the public who may have information on the movements of the Real IRA gang who carried out the indiscriminate bombing in Omagh town centre.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/523
Published Date: 06-Oct-03
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