US GOVERNMENT URGED TO BAN REAL IRA
US Government urged to ban Real IRA
A FATHER, bereaved by the Omagh bombing atrocity of August 15, 1998 has taken his campaign against the Real IRA to America.
Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan was killed in the outrage, has lobbied key US government officials to outlaw the dissident republicans by putting them on a list of foreign terrorist organisations.
Mr. Gallagher said that a ban on the terror group would be a victory for all victims of violence in Northern Ireland.
And he also said that the memory of his dead son provided a strong motivation for his emotional mission.
The chairman of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group is telling Irish Americans in New York that Real IRA supporters are continuing to raise funds in their country.
Mr. Gallagher is pressing the new Bush administration to be as supportive of the peace process as the Clinton government was.
"We told them that certain people are trying to destroy the peace process everybody has worked so hard for in Northern Ireland," he said.
"What we are now asking them to do is to support us in lobbying the government to put the Real IRA on the designated foreign terrorist organisation list.
"The result would be that the Real IRA would not be able to raise funds in the US. People actively involved in clandestine activities would be barred from entering the country"
Mr. Gallagher said that this would mean a victory for victims of violence from both traditions in the Province.
"Ours will be the first of many visits, not just from the victims of Omagh but also other atrocities, both republican and loyalist."
Mr. Gallagher was in America with the legal team that is putting together the case for a civil action against those believed to be responsible for the bombing.
Mr. Gallagher said he received a positive response from everyone he met in America.
"The people we met have listened carefully to what we have to say. We are in the process of setting up communications so we can keep in contact with them."
A FATHER, bereaved by the Omagh bombing atrocity of August 15, 1998 has taken his campaign against the Real IRA to America.
Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aidan was killed in the outrage, has lobbied key US government officials to outlaw the dissident republicans by putting them on a list of foreign terrorist organisations.
Mr. Gallagher said that a ban on the terror group would be a victory for all victims of violence in Northern Ireland.
And he also said that the memory of his dead son provided a strong motivation for his emotional mission.
The chairman of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group is telling Irish Americans in New York that Real IRA supporters are continuing to raise funds in their country.
Mr. Gallagher is pressing the new Bush administration to be as supportive of the peace process as the Clinton government was.
"We told them that certain people are trying to destroy the peace process everybody has worked so hard for in Northern Ireland," he said.
"What we are now asking them to do is to support us in lobbying the government to put the Real IRA on the designated foreign terrorist organisation list.
"The result would be that the Real IRA would not be able to raise funds in the US. People actively involved in clandestine activities would be barred from entering the country"
Mr. Gallagher said that this would mean a victory for victims of violence from both traditions in the Province.
"Ours will be the first of many visits, not just from the victims of Omagh but also other atrocities, both republican and loyalist."
Mr. Gallagher was in America with the legal team that is putting together the case for a civil action against those believed to be responsible for the bombing.
Mr. Gallagher said he received a positive response from everyone he met in America.
"The people we met have listened carefully to what we have to say. We are in the process of setting up communications so we can keep in contact with them."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0845
Published Date: 25-Jan-01
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