SPECIAL POWERS SOUGHT TO CHARGE OMAGH BOMBING SUSPECTS
Special powers sought to charge Omagh bombing suspects
OMAGH District Council has called on the Secretary of State, Dr. Mo Mowlarn, to give the police special powers so they can bring those believed to be responsible for the August 15 bombing to justice.
At the council's monthly meeting on Tuesday night, members backed a proposal by DUP councillor, Mr. Thomas Buchanan, who said the police knew who had carried out the atrocity, but were unable to charge them.
His comments came following a newspaper interview with the head of the RUC team investigating the bombing, Detective Chief Superintendent Eric Anderson.
Mr. Anderson told the national daily that his team had identified six people responsible for the bomb, at least one of whom came from the vicinity of Omagh.
But he said detectives were still short of evidence to convict the bombers.
"We have a fair idea who did it. We probably know about half a dozen who were involved. We are trying to work out their actual roles," Mr. Anderson said in the interview.
Most of the bombers are believed to come from the South Armagh/Monaghan border region.
On Tuesday, a proposal seeking the intervention of the Secretary of State in the investigation was passed by 10 votes. There were four abstentions.
Mr. Buchanan said many people had been left to mourn and suffer as a result of the bombers. And, while the money raised for the memorial fund was important and welcome, the investigation into the atrocity was equally as important.
"The detectives heading up the investigation have said they know who is responsible, but have not been able to charge them," he said.
"I would ask this council to write to Mo Mowlam, and ask her to give the police the power they need to bring these murderers to justice and put them behind bars.
"They know who they are, yet cannot bring them to justice. It is the least this council could do. We have seen something we would not want to see again, and no greater joy could be brought to some of those people affected by it than to see those responsible brought to account."
Mr. Buchanan said he did not want to see the same thing happen in Omagh that had happened in Teebane and Enniskillen, and in other areas, where no one was charged.
Seconding Mr. Buchanan's proposal, Mr. Drew Baxter said no one in the council chamber could fail to support it.
Authority
"If there is someone here who does not support it, then they must support those who carried out the bomb. Mo Mowlam has the power and authority to release prisoners why should she not have the power and authority to make prisoners of those who have wrecked lives in Omagh," he said.
"This bomb was planned against humanity, and those people do not deserve their freedom."
Mr. Mickey McAnespie pointed out that special anti-terrorist laws had been brought in after the bombing on August 15.
And he said people wanted to see those responsible for various acts over the past 30 years brought to justice, from whatever source they came.
"The first person to die in the troubles was a man from Derry, and no one was brought to justice for his death. If the police had names of individuals, I cannot see why they can't go out and arrest them," he said.
Mr. Paddy McGowan said he could not understand why, if the police knew who committed the crime; they could not bring them to justice.
Their arrests would receive unanimous support across the country and the sooner the better, he said.
Mr. Johnny McLaughlin said until the people who committed the atrocity were brought to justice, the community could not fully get back on its feet.
Mr. Liam McQuaid said his party would have no problem supporting the motion, as it, too, wanted to see those responsible brought to justice.
Hoax calls
He went on to say that there was another issue in the town that had to be addressed that of hoax bomb phone calls.
He referred to the hoax bomb call on Christmas Eve, and said those responsible for such acts should also be brought to account.
"It is terrible that people should still be subject to this sort of thing, after what happened in August," he said.
Mr. McGowan described the hoax callers as "evil", saying he would like to see them behind bars for a long time.
And Mr. McLaughlin described them as the "lowest of scum", who were torturing people who had already suffered a great deal.
Mr. Reuben McKelvey said his party supported Mr. Buchanan's proposal. He added that those in the caring profession were now suffering strain, and said bomb scares were only making things worse.
OMAGH District Council has called on the Secretary of State, Dr. Mo Mowlarn, to give the police special powers so they can bring those believed to be responsible for the August 15 bombing to justice.
At the council's monthly meeting on Tuesday night, members backed a proposal by DUP councillor, Mr. Thomas Buchanan, who said the police knew who had carried out the atrocity, but were unable to charge them.
His comments came following a newspaper interview with the head of the RUC team investigating the bombing, Detective Chief Superintendent Eric Anderson.
Mr. Anderson told the national daily that his team had identified six people responsible for the bomb, at least one of whom came from the vicinity of Omagh.
But he said detectives were still short of evidence to convict the bombers.
"We have a fair idea who did it. We probably know about half a dozen who were involved. We are trying to work out their actual roles," Mr. Anderson said in the interview.
Most of the bombers are believed to come from the South Armagh/Monaghan border region.
On Tuesday, a proposal seeking the intervention of the Secretary of State in the investigation was passed by 10 votes. There were four abstentions.
Mr. Buchanan said many people had been left to mourn and suffer as a result of the bombers. And, while the money raised for the memorial fund was important and welcome, the investigation into the atrocity was equally as important.
"The detectives heading up the investigation have said they know who is responsible, but have not been able to charge them," he said.
"I would ask this council to write to Mo Mowlam, and ask her to give the police the power they need to bring these murderers to justice and put them behind bars.
"They know who they are, yet cannot bring them to justice. It is the least this council could do. We have seen something we would not want to see again, and no greater joy could be brought to some of those people affected by it than to see those responsible brought to account."
Mr. Buchanan said he did not want to see the same thing happen in Omagh that had happened in Teebane and Enniskillen, and in other areas, where no one was charged.
Seconding Mr. Buchanan's proposal, Mr. Drew Baxter said no one in the council chamber could fail to support it.
Authority
"If there is someone here who does not support it, then they must support those who carried out the bomb. Mo Mowlam has the power and authority to release prisoners why should she not have the power and authority to make prisoners of those who have wrecked lives in Omagh," he said.
"This bomb was planned against humanity, and those people do not deserve their freedom."
Mr. Mickey McAnespie pointed out that special anti-terrorist laws had been brought in after the bombing on August 15.
And he said people wanted to see those responsible for various acts over the past 30 years brought to justice, from whatever source they came.
"The first person to die in the troubles was a man from Derry, and no one was brought to justice for his death. If the police had names of individuals, I cannot see why they can't go out and arrest them," he said.
Mr. Paddy McGowan said he could not understand why, if the police knew who committed the crime; they could not bring them to justice.
Their arrests would receive unanimous support across the country and the sooner the better, he said.
Mr. Johnny McLaughlin said until the people who committed the atrocity were brought to justice, the community could not fully get back on its feet.
Mr. Liam McQuaid said his party would have no problem supporting the motion, as it, too, wanted to see those responsible brought to justice.
Hoax calls
He went on to say that there was another issue in the town that had to be addressed that of hoax bomb phone calls.
He referred to the hoax bomb call on Christmas Eve, and said those responsible for such acts should also be brought to account.
"It is terrible that people should still be subject to this sort of thing, after what happened in August," he said.
Mr. McGowan described the hoax callers as "evil", saying he would like to see them behind bars for a long time.
And Mr. McLaughlin described them as the "lowest of scum", who were torturing people who had already suffered a great deal.
Mr. Reuben McKelvey said his party supported Mr. Buchanan's proposal. He added that those in the caring profession were now suffering strain, and said bomb scares were only making things worse.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0818
Published Date: 07-Jan-99
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