I'LL KEEP HUNTING RIRA INFORMER
I'LL KEEP HUNTING RIRA INFORMER
EXCLUSIVE
By CIARAN McGUIGAN
THE husband of a woman murdered in the Omagh bomb claims he could be the first from the Co Tyrone town to be arrested in relation to the 1998 atrocity.
For gardai have threatened to arrest Lawrence Rushe, if he does not stop pursuing their prize informant.
But Mr Rushe, whose wife Libby was one of the 29 who died in the bombing, says he will ignore the threats, and will continue to hunt down Real IRA spy Paddy Dixon.
In a warning passed on by the PSNI Detective Superintendent Norman Baxter, Mr Rushe was told that it was a criminal offence in the Republic to "attempt to locate a person of Mr Dixon's status".
Det Supt Baxter also revealed that Dixon had refused to allow the PSNI interview him.
Said Mr Rushe:" A letter came from the PSNI, informing me that if I go on searching for people involved in the Omagh bombing, and for Paddy Dixon, that I would be arrested.
"They have also refused to confirm the name of the solicitor (that represents Dixon), and I presume the threat extends to that.
"But people have committed a heinous crime, and I want justice, so I will ignore their warning.
"The PSNI and Gardai investigations into this don't seem to be going anywhere, so I will continue my own investigations.
"In doing so I may be the first person in Omagh arrested regarding the bomb, which would be ironic, when I am one of the victims."
Paddy Dixon is a Dublin car thief, recruited by Gardai Special Branch to inform on dissident republicans.
According to his handler, named as John White, Dixon claims that he was asked to steal a car for the Omagh atrocity. Dixon didn't steal the car, but passed on information that a known bombmaker wanted a car for a bomb attack, at that time.
Campaigners believe that that information could have been crucial in preventing the atrocity, and Mr Rushe is determined to quiz Dixon, who is in the Republic's Witness Protection Programme, about the attack.
Added Mr Rushe: "What we have is a certain person, and others, being protected by the Gardai.
"He (Dixon) is being protected, and has been spirited out of the country."
EXCLUSIVE
By CIARAN McGUIGAN
THE husband of a woman murdered in the Omagh bomb claims he could be the first from the Co Tyrone town to be arrested in relation to the 1998 atrocity.
For gardai have threatened to arrest Lawrence Rushe, if he does not stop pursuing their prize informant.
But Mr Rushe, whose wife Libby was one of the 29 who died in the bombing, says he will ignore the threats, and will continue to hunt down Real IRA spy Paddy Dixon.
In a warning passed on by the PSNI Detective Superintendent Norman Baxter, Mr Rushe was told that it was a criminal offence in the Republic to "attempt to locate a person of Mr Dixon's status".
Det Supt Baxter also revealed that Dixon had refused to allow the PSNI interview him.
Said Mr Rushe:" A letter came from the PSNI, informing me that if I go on searching for people involved in the Omagh bombing, and for Paddy Dixon, that I would be arrested.
"They have also refused to confirm the name of the solicitor (that represents Dixon), and I presume the threat extends to that.
"But people have committed a heinous crime, and I want justice, so I will ignore their warning.
"The PSNI and Gardai investigations into this don't seem to be going anywhere, so I will continue my own investigations.
"In doing so I may be the first person in Omagh arrested regarding the bomb, which would be ironic, when I am one of the victims."
Paddy Dixon is a Dublin car thief, recruited by Gardai Special Branch to inform on dissident republicans.
According to his handler, named as John White, Dixon claims that he was asked to steal a car for the Omagh atrocity. Dixon didn't steal the car, but passed on information that a known bombmaker wanted a car for a bomb attack, at that time.
Campaigners believe that that information could have been crucial in preventing the atrocity, and Mr Rushe is determined to quiz Dixon, who is in the Republic's Witness Protection Programme, about the attack.
Added Mr Rushe: "What we have is a certain person, and others, being protected by the Gardai.
"He (Dixon) is being protected, and has been spirited out of the country."
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/165
Published Date: 07-Mar-04
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