WIDOWER ACCUSES POLICE OF INCOMPETENCE IN EMOTIONAL OUTBURST
Widower accuses police of incompetence in emotional outburst
POLICE on both sides of the border were condemned as incompetent by the husband of one of those murdered in the Omagh bombing three years ago.
Mr. Laurence Rush, whose wife, Elizabeth, died outside her shop as she watched the police clear the Market Street area of civilians, also accused the government of conspiracy, and was highly critical of the fact that no one had yet been made amenable for the deaths of 29 men, women and children in the town when the 300lb car bomb exploded at 3.09pm on August 15 three years ago to the day.
In an emotional outburst, Mr. Rush slammed the police as being 'completely incompetent' and demanded to know how the police on mainland Britain could pick out a lone murderer out of a vast population of people, and the police here could not pick up 100 people from a population of four million.
"This is a conspiracy. This will all come out like the Derry 13. It is a conspiracy by the British government and an example of administrative terrorism," he said.
"Why did Sinn Fein close its office the day before the bomb? Why did the Army remain in barracks. Why did the RUC only have three on the streets of Omagh and 24 others out in surrounding areas?" he demanded.
"I am grieving my wife. My children have lost a mother. My grandchildren have no granny. They lost a beautiful person. I am just disgusted by the lack of co-operation we have had from all levels. I do not blame the ordinary foot soldiers or the police - we owe them a debt," he said.
He went on to demand to know what was happening from senior police levels upward. He also went on to claim that he had a statement made last year by senior police that the bombers would probably never be caught.
"What a defeatist attitude," he shouted.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Baxter earlier told the press gathering that it was now three years since the horrific bombing of Market Street, and the families of the dead, the injured and many others would be reflecting on what took place on that day.
Commitment
"Today gives another opportunity to the RUC and Garda Siochana to reaffirm our commitment to bringing to justice those responsible," he said.
However, he pointed out that even though police on both sides would continue their investigation to that end, there were gaps in the chain of evidence.
"We would appeal to people who could give any information to assist us to provide that information. It is only with public support we will bring to justice those responsible for murder in this town," he said.
Detective Superintendent Foley concurred, and added: "I know there are people out there with information. I am appealing to them today to have the courage to get off the fence and give us that information and to provide evidence to bring these people to court.
"Our wish is to jog people's memories again and bring them back to that dreadful day so that they can help us bring these people to justice," he said.
"We have never felt like giving up. As far as the Garda Siochana is concerned this case will not close until we bring someone before the court. That will continue to be our resolve," he said.
Also at the press conference was Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose only son, Adrian, was one of the victims of the bombing.
Emotional day
He said it was an emotional day for the families involved, and he was grateful to both the Gardai and the RUC for coming to Omagh to make their fresh appeal for help.
Mr. Gallagher said he and others felt that the key to the investigation and catching the killers lay within the Republican community, and he appealed for those who knew anything to have the courage to come forward.
He said that those in leadership had often appealed for justice, and it was no less right that those bereaved and injured on August 15, 1998, should have the same justice.
Mr Gallagher vowed that the bereaved would continue to apply pressure to both governments to ensure that the promises and changes in legislation made in the aftermath of the bombing, were achieved.
He also said it was felt that the effectiveness of the law in bringing the perpetrators to justice had been blunted.
"We feel it is only a matter of time before these people will kill again. Anyone with knowledge of what happened in Omagh should come forward and give that information to the RUC or the Garda Siochana. They are the only people who can put these people behind bars," he said.
Superintendent Baxter denied that the investigation was mired until an informant came forward, and said that the aim of being in Omagh was to appeal for help from the public.
"There is a moral obligation for those with information to come forward to help with the enquiry," he said, stressing that the police only saw the investigation ending when those who primed and planted the bomb were convicted for what they did.
"Twenty-nine men, women and children were slaughtered in the town of Omagh," he said.
Referring to the mammoth enquiry that has taken place, Superintendent Baxter said that what was desperately needed was evidence to close the gap between what police knew and the evidence required to make convictions possible.
Detective Superintendent Foley said that in the South of Ireland 78 arrests had been made over the last three years, over 2,000 had been interviewed and 140 searches had been undertaken, while four people had been charged one of whom was in relation to Omagh.
"We are hoping this day will give us the extra bit of information we need to bring them to court," he said.
Abhorrent
Superintendent Baxter went on to tell the conference that he found it abhorrent the suggestion that police had information prior to the bombing and failed to act on it.
He said he had known some of those who died, and for anyone to suggest that he knew a bomb was being brought into Omagh and had not taken action to prevent it was abhorrent.
"I had absolutely no knowledge that the Real IRA was preparing a large bomb," he said.
He went on to say that police were not at a point of despair, but there was concern that they still had not received the support they required to convict the bombers.
He went on to particularly appeal to those who had information on the movements of the car used in the bombing to come forward. He said police did not have the full picture in relation to the car, a Vauxhall Cavalier, which had undergone a change in registration plates before being driven into the town with its deadly cargo.
POLICE on both sides of the border were condemned as incompetent by the husband of one of those murdered in the Omagh bombing three years ago.
Mr. Laurence Rush, whose wife, Elizabeth, died outside her shop as she watched the police clear the Market Street area of civilians, also accused the government of conspiracy, and was highly critical of the fact that no one had yet been made amenable for the deaths of 29 men, women and children in the town when the 300lb car bomb exploded at 3.09pm on August 15 three years ago to the day.
In an emotional outburst, Mr. Rush slammed the police as being 'completely incompetent' and demanded to know how the police on mainland Britain could pick out a lone murderer out of a vast population of people, and the police here could not pick up 100 people from a population of four million.
"This is a conspiracy. This will all come out like the Derry 13. It is a conspiracy by the British government and an example of administrative terrorism," he said.
"Why did Sinn Fein close its office the day before the bomb? Why did the Army remain in barracks. Why did the RUC only have three on the streets of Omagh and 24 others out in surrounding areas?" he demanded.
"I am grieving my wife. My children have lost a mother. My grandchildren have no granny. They lost a beautiful person. I am just disgusted by the lack of co-operation we have had from all levels. I do not blame the ordinary foot soldiers or the police - we owe them a debt," he said.
He went on to demand to know what was happening from senior police levels upward. He also went on to claim that he had a statement made last year by senior police that the bombers would probably never be caught.
"What a defeatist attitude," he shouted.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Baxter earlier told the press gathering that it was now three years since the horrific bombing of Market Street, and the families of the dead, the injured and many others would be reflecting on what took place on that day.
Commitment
"Today gives another opportunity to the RUC and Garda Siochana to reaffirm our commitment to bringing to justice those responsible," he said.
However, he pointed out that even though police on both sides would continue their investigation to that end, there were gaps in the chain of evidence.
"We would appeal to people who could give any information to assist us to provide that information. It is only with public support we will bring to justice those responsible for murder in this town," he said.
Detective Superintendent Foley concurred, and added: "I know there are people out there with information. I am appealing to them today to have the courage to get off the fence and give us that information and to provide evidence to bring these people to court.
"Our wish is to jog people's memories again and bring them back to that dreadful day so that they can help us bring these people to justice," he said.
"We have never felt like giving up. As far as the Garda Siochana is concerned this case will not close until we bring someone before the court. That will continue to be our resolve," he said.
Also at the press conference was Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose only son, Adrian, was one of the victims of the bombing.
Emotional day
He said it was an emotional day for the families involved, and he was grateful to both the Gardai and the RUC for coming to Omagh to make their fresh appeal for help.
Mr. Gallagher said he and others felt that the key to the investigation and catching the killers lay within the Republican community, and he appealed for those who knew anything to have the courage to come forward.
He said that those in leadership had often appealed for justice, and it was no less right that those bereaved and injured on August 15, 1998, should have the same justice.
Mr Gallagher vowed that the bereaved would continue to apply pressure to both governments to ensure that the promises and changes in legislation made in the aftermath of the bombing, were achieved.
He also said it was felt that the effectiveness of the law in bringing the perpetrators to justice had been blunted.
"We feel it is only a matter of time before these people will kill again. Anyone with knowledge of what happened in Omagh should come forward and give that information to the RUC or the Garda Siochana. They are the only people who can put these people behind bars," he said.
Superintendent Baxter denied that the investigation was mired until an informant came forward, and said that the aim of being in Omagh was to appeal for help from the public.
"There is a moral obligation for those with information to come forward to help with the enquiry," he said, stressing that the police only saw the investigation ending when those who primed and planted the bomb were convicted for what they did.
"Twenty-nine men, women and children were slaughtered in the town of Omagh," he said.
Referring to the mammoth enquiry that has taken place, Superintendent Baxter said that what was desperately needed was evidence to close the gap between what police knew and the evidence required to make convictions possible.
Detective Superintendent Foley said that in the South of Ireland 78 arrests had been made over the last three years, over 2,000 had been interviewed and 140 searches had been undertaken, while four people had been charged one of whom was in relation to Omagh.
"We are hoping this day will give us the extra bit of information we need to bring them to court," he said.
Abhorrent
Superintendent Baxter went on to tell the conference that he found it abhorrent the suggestion that police had information prior to the bombing and failed to act on it.
He said he had known some of those who died, and for anyone to suggest that he knew a bomb was being brought into Omagh and had not taken action to prevent it was abhorrent.
"I had absolutely no knowledge that the Real IRA was preparing a large bomb," he said.
He went on to say that police were not at a point of despair, but there was concern that they still had not received the support they required to convict the bombers.
He went on to particularly appeal to those who had information on the movements of the car used in the bombing to come forward. He said police did not have the full picture in relation to the car, a Vauxhall Cavalier, which had undergone a change in registration plates before being driven into the town with its deadly cargo.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0908
Published Date: 16-Aug-01
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