BOMB INVESTIGATIONS
Bombing investigations
Sir,
The front page headline "Omagh - why has no one been charged?" in a recent issue of a Belfast newspaper makes very depressing reading.
No doubt we would all wish to commend the patient detective work that has been carried out by both RUC and Garda officers, also the determination of Chief Superintendent Anderson to catch the devils who masterminded and conveyed the dastardly bomb to this town.
However, with the lack of progress in bringing the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bombers to book after 11 long years, one wonders why investigations into the Omagh bombers seem to be taking so long.
Were the terrorists to be caught and punished, this would doubtless go some way to assist the healing process which will be a very protracted affair.
People are beginning to ask if our political masters really want these terrorists caught at this time, especially as the solution to the very sensitive issue of decommissioning has not yet been found.
It is obvious that the police have got a pretty shrewd idea of the perpetrators but just haven't got enough evidence to bring them to court.
Surely those new powers which were rushed through both Parliaments in the aftermath of the Omagh atrocity could be more rigorously enforced.
Failing that, a fairly substantial reward to concentrate minds could be offered, if that has not already been done. It seems pointless to me to expect a bomber's conscience to be pricked and his tongue loosened unless he stands to gain financially for doing so.
Could I just say finally that Omagh people are getting heartily sick of media reports and documentaries dealing with the aftermath of the bomb.
It's surely long passed time for the bereaved families to be left to mourn in private and to allow the authorities to get on as speedily as humanly possible with the job of reconstruction of the town centre. This, in my opinion, together with immediate payment of compensation to victims would also greatly help to smooth the healing process.
Yours,
Elderly resident
Sir,
The front page headline "Omagh - why has no one been charged?" in a recent issue of a Belfast newspaper makes very depressing reading.
No doubt we would all wish to commend the patient detective work that has been carried out by both RUC and Garda officers, also the determination of Chief Superintendent Anderson to catch the devils who masterminded and conveyed the dastardly bomb to this town.
However, with the lack of progress in bringing the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bombers to book after 11 long years, one wonders why investigations into the Omagh bombers seem to be taking so long.
Were the terrorists to be caught and punished, this would doubtless go some way to assist the healing process which will be a very protracted affair.
People are beginning to ask if our political masters really want these terrorists caught at this time, especially as the solution to the very sensitive issue of decommissioning has not yet been found.
It is obvious that the police have got a pretty shrewd idea of the perpetrators but just haven't got enough evidence to bring them to court.
Surely those new powers which were rushed through both Parliaments in the aftermath of the Omagh atrocity could be more rigorously enforced.
Failing that, a fairly substantial reward to concentrate minds could be offered, if that has not already been done. It seems pointless to me to expect a bomber's conscience to be pricked and his tongue loosened unless he stands to gain financially for doing so.
Could I just say finally that Omagh people are getting heartily sick of media reports and documentaries dealing with the aftermath of the bomb.
It's surely long passed time for the bereaved families to be left to mourn in private and to allow the authorities to get on as speedily as humanly possible with the job of reconstruction of the town centre. This, in my opinion, together with immediate payment of compensation to victims would also greatly help to smooth the healing process.
Yours,
Elderly resident
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0591
Published Date: 07-Jan-99
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