STEP BACK AND REJECT VIOLENCE IS TRADE UNION CALL AT RALLY
Step back and reject violence is Trade Union call at rally
By Olga Bradshaw
AN ESTIMATED 6,000 people braved driving rain and strong winds at lunchtime on Friday in Omagh to show their revulsion at recent sectarian violence which claimed the life of young postal worker and father, Mr. Danny McColgan, in Belfast.
High Street resembled a sea of umbrellas stretching from the Courthouse to beyond the site of the former Royal Arms Hotel, as men and women from all sections of the Omagh community came together to say an emphatic 'no' to terrorism.
Their collective message was simple but heartfelt - that prejudice and sectarianism should not be allowed to prevail.
The rally began poignantly with a call to silence by Mr. Michael Duffy, head of the Omagh Trauma Unit, set up in the aftermath of the Market Street bombing in 1998.
Mr. Duffy said the act of silence was to remember all those killed or injured in the past 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland, and in particular, to remember Mr. McColgan, who was gunned down as he made his way to work at Rathcoole sorting office in Belfast.
He also asked those who attended to remember those who had suffered in the Omagh community, as well as those touched by the Teebane attack, the 10th anniversary of which was on Thursday of last week.
One of the most warmly received addresses was that of Mr. Albert McFarland, of the CWU workers union, who spoke on behalf of the postal workers.
He said the cowardly killers of Mr. McCoigan had ignited a flame of outrage in the hearts of Trade Unionists across the country.
"In Northern Ireland working men and women responded to the cold-blooded murder of the 20-year-old with dismay and horror," he said, adding: "Despair across the Province and beyond was compounded by the shocking announcement by the Red Hand Defenders terror group, who admitted responsibility for the outrage, that it considers Catholics going about their work in Protestant areas to be legitimate targets."
Mr. McFarland went on: "No words can describe just how evil this act of sectarian violence was. Daniel was robbed of his life targeted simply because he was a Catholic leaving a family and a community in grief and a baby without a father.
"Striking back seems an almost natural response but only serves to increase the suffering. It is time to quietly reflect on what we are doing to each other. This whole community needs to step back and reject violence as the destructive force that it is. We need to come together. Prejudice and sectarianism cannot be allowed to prevail," he added.
Opposition
Mr. Kieran Gallagher, of FOCUS, the Omagh forum for understanding community group, began the proceedings by reading a letter from the Northern Ireland Congress of Trade Unions affirming total opposition to all sectarian activity.
The letter boldly stated that no one had the right to engage in sectarian activity claiming it to be on the behalf of the community or in defence of its rights.
The Congress also went on to call on all those engaged in paramilitary acts and sectarianism to stop, and members called on all such organisations to disband, saying such groups and organisations had no place in peaceful society. Mr. Gallagher said those gathered at rallies across Northern Ireland had witnessed a wide range of feelings of sadness and despair at the death of Mr. McColgan, who was simply doing his job and trying to give his partner, Lyndsey and their child an equal change for life.
"To them and their wider family circle we send our deepest sympathy and regards. A dark day in their young lives, as we in Omagh know only too well," he said.
Mr. Gallagher said there was a feeling of disgust and revulsion that those who carried out the murder could then turn their evil into a threat against Mr. McColgan's colleagues.
Commending the Unions and members of the public who had chosen to take a stand against bigotry and sectarianism, he commented: "We in FOCUS and the entire community and voluntary sector fully support the actions you have taken today, to ensure your safety. We implore you the people of Northern Ireland to have the courage and strength to say 'Enough is enough'. We will not, nor cannot tolerate sectarianism in any shape for form".
Guest speaker at the rally was Mr. Dooley Harte, of NIPSA, who said that, for too long the public sector had been at the coal face of paramilitary threats and harassment.
Highlighting an incident in 1997 when the Social Security Agency had to close benefit offices because of paramilitary threats, he said NIPSA members wanted to provide the public with the best service they could, but they had to be allowed to do so.
"Again we find that it is the ordinary worker that is the target., We are not legitimate targets. We are workers and as workers we will struggle to ensure our right to work. We will not give in," he said.
Mr. Harte continued: "We have resolutely stood against threats before and we will do so again. Hopefully, there will not be the need to."
Condemning those who had threatened to deduct people's wages for supporting the stoppages in Northern Ireland if they could not provide reasonable justification for not returning to work, Mr. Harte said the murder of public servants such as Mr. McColgan, and murder of Trade Unionists, such as Martin O'Hagan, as well as the murder of thousands of other workers meant that people did have a genuine reason to support the stoppages.
He said the Trade Union movement had to unite, and as one voice tell paramilitaries that people wished to be left alone to live and work how and where they pleased.
"We as one Trade Union voice, tell our politicians that they must start to do the job we elected them to do. Give us peace to live and work free from intimidation and fear," he said.
Serious
Mrs. Rita Fox, who spoke on behalf of the teaching unions in the Province, said teachers did not often take the type of action seen in Omagh, but this served to highlight how serious the situation had become.
"Last week street violence erupted in Belfast violence which we hoped we had left behind. As the week passed the situation deteriorated with the mindless destruction of property in a school car park and children having to be taken home in police Land Rovers.
"But on Saturday morning the situation plunged into the depths of despair when young Danny McColgan was shot dead as he made his way to work," she said.
Mrs. Fox continued: "No wonder then, when death threats were issued by paramilitaries stating that teachers and postal workers were legitimate targets they were not dismissed as hoaxes. Teachers in North Belfast in particular felt very vulnerable. Teachers who had ensured that schools operate normally throughout the Troubles were now being targeted."
Mrs. Fox said it was now time for people to turn away from violence and to Find a different way to resolve differences. She said that during intervening years much progress had been made.
"The Peace Process has lumbered along sometimes at a frustratingly slow pace, but nevertheless, progress. We have had major setbacks along the way and the people in Omagh know that better than most," she said.
"The events of last week are a stark reminder of what things were like and could be again if we allow the situation to deteriorate."
The teachers' unions representative said the rallies sent a clear signal to the rest of the world that normality did exist in Northern Ireland, that it was a good place in which to live, work and be educated, but it could be better.
'Those of us who teach have a part to play in shaping the citizens of tomorrow. We have a responsibility to show that we don't accept sectarianism. We must have a society where everybody is treated equally and can live and work free from threats of any type.
"Today teachers are proud to stand with fellow workers and to say loud and clear that we want the best future for our young people. We can also make a commitment to work with others to help build a more tolerant society for our young people to grow up in," she added.
Mr. Viv Brady, of the GMB Union, said normally unions representatives made a stand for people's rights, but on Friday they found themselves trying to protect members lives.
"What right has any organisation to claim that our public servants, the educators of our children or our own work colleagues are legitimate targets in a sectarian struggle?" he demanded from the platform.
"The killing of young Daniel McColgan what political agenda did that serve and what threat did they young man pose to anyone? This was a blatant sectarian killing and it was far from being the first.
"Ambulance drivers, firemen, bus drivers, teachers, DHSS staff, bread men, construction workers, factory workers all these professions and more have,over the years, been made a target by these sectarian thugs. But if Daniel was not the first then we must insist that he be the last," Mr. Brady said.
Demanding the withdrawal of all paramilitary threats against people going to their work, Mr. Brady said those responsible must also go further.
"We insist that they accept that never again must a man or woman going to or from their workplace or carrying out their public duty be seen as a legitimate target simply because of their perceived religious beliefs. What is the point of withdrawing a threat today if it can just as easily be reissued tomorrow?" he asked. Warning that sectarianism did not operate in a vacuum, he stressed that it existed in society where social and economic deprivation and inequality existed.
"Unemployment, poor housing, low-paid jobs, lack of social amenities, an under-funded health service with undervalued staff these are all social evils which must be addressed before we can begin to tackle the problem of deep rooted sectarianism," he said.
Mr. Brady continued: "The organisers of this rally made a conscious decision not to invite politicians onto the platform today. And we had valid reasons for doing so. Far too often the position of these politicians and the role they play is ambiguous. Our message must be quite clear. We can no long share a platform with politicians who can condemn the actions of one paramilitary group and become apologists for another."
Mr. Brady said the pursuit of peace must most be a minor detail in the lives of political representatives. It must be their consuming passion.
The GMB shopsteward at Desmonds continued: "Time after time, year after year, we have re-elected them on the promise of peace only to see them return to Westminster or the Assembly and continue to engage in shallow sectarian bickering and political posturing.
"What we have to tell the politicians today is that we are wary of it all. We are tired and worn out. We have marched to the top of the hill and down again too many times now, and still we are no further forward.
"Indeed, if we look at the events of the last week it could appear we are right back where we started. And part of the blame for this lies with them. For some of them it is their failure to outrightly condemn the actions of the paramilitaries and for all of them it is their failure to secure a sustainable peace."
Mrs. Olive Wylie, of UNISON, who represented hospital workers, told the rally that the last time she had stood at Omagh Courthouse it was in an effort to save jobs and acute services at Tyrone County Hospital.
However, she said it was "with a sense of shame" that people had gathered in the town centre on Friday to express abhorrence at the shooting of Mr. McColgan, and the threats that existed against postmen, teachers and other school based staff.
"And let us not forget also, the threats that still exist to schoolchildren whatever their religion," she said.
Condemning politicians who alleged that people were being duped into attending rallies across the Province, Mrs. Wylie said the rallies were far removed from subtle hoaxes.
"There is nothing subtle or hoaxy about a post man having to look over his shoulder with every step he takes. There is nothing subtle or hoaxy about a school teacher wondering all the time if she will get home unhindered, or a school caretaker the last person to leave fearing the approaching darkness, or, indeed, the schoolchild unable to concentrate for fear of the bus journey home." Mrs. Wylie said. The UNISON representative said that these were examples of very real fears that people held, and people did, with very real cause, feel frightened.
Mrs. Wylie went on to vow that the Trade Union Movement would never allow threats to go unchallenged.
"As Trade Unionists our strength in our daily workings is our ability to be able to distinguish right from wrong, fair from unfair, truth from lies. Not only to distinguish but also to fight for what is just, and that is why we are here today." she said. The Resolution, which brought the rally to a close was read by Una Armstrong, a member of NIFSA, who represented the social service workers in Omagh. In it she called for the right for people to go freely to and from work, free from threats and free from the fear of sectarianism and sectarian attacks.
"This rally calls for the right to work, free from these attacks. This rally supports the right to an education, free from sectarian attack. This rally congratulates the postal workers who, by their courageous stand, have forced the withdrawal of threats, not only against themselves but against other sections of workers.
"This rally affirms that the social and economic inequalities that contribute to the maintenance of sectarianism have to be addressed with decent housing and real jobs, which we believe are basic rights for all. This rally affirms that there can be no going back to the dark days of the Troubles and calls on all those organisations which want to drag us back to stop their activities now, once and for all," she said.
By Olga Bradshaw
AN ESTIMATED 6,000 people braved driving rain and strong winds at lunchtime on Friday in Omagh to show their revulsion at recent sectarian violence which claimed the life of young postal worker and father, Mr. Danny McColgan, in Belfast.
High Street resembled a sea of umbrellas stretching from the Courthouse to beyond the site of the former Royal Arms Hotel, as men and women from all sections of the Omagh community came together to say an emphatic 'no' to terrorism.
Their collective message was simple but heartfelt - that prejudice and sectarianism should not be allowed to prevail.
The rally began poignantly with a call to silence by Mr. Michael Duffy, head of the Omagh Trauma Unit, set up in the aftermath of the Market Street bombing in 1998.
Mr. Duffy said the act of silence was to remember all those killed or injured in the past 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland, and in particular, to remember Mr. McColgan, who was gunned down as he made his way to work at Rathcoole sorting office in Belfast.
He also asked those who attended to remember those who had suffered in the Omagh community, as well as those touched by the Teebane attack, the 10th anniversary of which was on Thursday of last week.
One of the most warmly received addresses was that of Mr. Albert McFarland, of the CWU workers union, who spoke on behalf of the postal workers.
He said the cowardly killers of Mr. McCoigan had ignited a flame of outrage in the hearts of Trade Unionists across the country.
"In Northern Ireland working men and women responded to the cold-blooded murder of the 20-year-old with dismay and horror," he said, adding: "Despair across the Province and beyond was compounded by the shocking announcement by the Red Hand Defenders terror group, who admitted responsibility for the outrage, that it considers Catholics going about their work in Protestant areas to be legitimate targets."
Mr. McFarland went on: "No words can describe just how evil this act of sectarian violence was. Daniel was robbed of his life targeted simply because he was a Catholic leaving a family and a community in grief and a baby without a father.
"Striking back seems an almost natural response but only serves to increase the suffering. It is time to quietly reflect on what we are doing to each other. This whole community needs to step back and reject violence as the destructive force that it is. We need to come together. Prejudice and sectarianism cannot be allowed to prevail," he added.
Opposition
Mr. Kieran Gallagher, of FOCUS, the Omagh forum for understanding community group, began the proceedings by reading a letter from the Northern Ireland Congress of Trade Unions affirming total opposition to all sectarian activity.
The letter boldly stated that no one had the right to engage in sectarian activity claiming it to be on the behalf of the community or in defence of its rights.
The Congress also went on to call on all those engaged in paramilitary acts and sectarianism to stop, and members called on all such organisations to disband, saying such groups and organisations had no place in peaceful society. Mr. Gallagher said those gathered at rallies across Northern Ireland had witnessed a wide range of feelings of sadness and despair at the death of Mr. McColgan, who was simply doing his job and trying to give his partner, Lyndsey and their child an equal change for life.
"To them and their wider family circle we send our deepest sympathy and regards. A dark day in their young lives, as we in Omagh know only too well," he said.
Mr. Gallagher said there was a feeling of disgust and revulsion that those who carried out the murder could then turn their evil into a threat against Mr. McColgan's colleagues.
Commending the Unions and members of the public who had chosen to take a stand against bigotry and sectarianism, he commented: "We in FOCUS and the entire community and voluntary sector fully support the actions you have taken today, to ensure your safety. We implore you the people of Northern Ireland to have the courage and strength to say 'Enough is enough'. We will not, nor cannot tolerate sectarianism in any shape for form".
Guest speaker at the rally was Mr. Dooley Harte, of NIPSA, who said that, for too long the public sector had been at the coal face of paramilitary threats and harassment.
Highlighting an incident in 1997 when the Social Security Agency had to close benefit offices because of paramilitary threats, he said NIPSA members wanted to provide the public with the best service they could, but they had to be allowed to do so.
"Again we find that it is the ordinary worker that is the target., We are not legitimate targets. We are workers and as workers we will struggle to ensure our right to work. We will not give in," he said.
Mr. Harte continued: "We have resolutely stood against threats before and we will do so again. Hopefully, there will not be the need to."
Condemning those who had threatened to deduct people's wages for supporting the stoppages in Northern Ireland if they could not provide reasonable justification for not returning to work, Mr. Harte said the murder of public servants such as Mr. McColgan, and murder of Trade Unionists, such as Martin O'Hagan, as well as the murder of thousands of other workers meant that people did have a genuine reason to support the stoppages.
He said the Trade Union movement had to unite, and as one voice tell paramilitaries that people wished to be left alone to live and work how and where they pleased.
"We as one Trade Union voice, tell our politicians that they must start to do the job we elected them to do. Give us peace to live and work free from intimidation and fear," he said.
Serious
Mrs. Rita Fox, who spoke on behalf of the teaching unions in the Province, said teachers did not often take the type of action seen in Omagh, but this served to highlight how serious the situation had become.
"Last week street violence erupted in Belfast violence which we hoped we had left behind. As the week passed the situation deteriorated with the mindless destruction of property in a school car park and children having to be taken home in police Land Rovers.
"But on Saturday morning the situation plunged into the depths of despair when young Danny McColgan was shot dead as he made his way to work," she said.
Mrs. Fox continued: "No wonder then, when death threats were issued by paramilitaries stating that teachers and postal workers were legitimate targets they were not dismissed as hoaxes. Teachers in North Belfast in particular felt very vulnerable. Teachers who had ensured that schools operate normally throughout the Troubles were now being targeted."
Mrs. Fox said it was now time for people to turn away from violence and to Find a different way to resolve differences. She said that during intervening years much progress had been made.
"The Peace Process has lumbered along sometimes at a frustratingly slow pace, but nevertheless, progress. We have had major setbacks along the way and the people in Omagh know that better than most," she said.
"The events of last week are a stark reminder of what things were like and could be again if we allow the situation to deteriorate."
The teachers' unions representative said the rallies sent a clear signal to the rest of the world that normality did exist in Northern Ireland, that it was a good place in which to live, work and be educated, but it could be better.
'Those of us who teach have a part to play in shaping the citizens of tomorrow. We have a responsibility to show that we don't accept sectarianism. We must have a society where everybody is treated equally and can live and work free from threats of any type.
"Today teachers are proud to stand with fellow workers and to say loud and clear that we want the best future for our young people. We can also make a commitment to work with others to help build a more tolerant society for our young people to grow up in," she added.
Mr. Viv Brady, of the GMB Union, said normally unions representatives made a stand for people's rights, but on Friday they found themselves trying to protect members lives.
"What right has any organisation to claim that our public servants, the educators of our children or our own work colleagues are legitimate targets in a sectarian struggle?" he demanded from the platform.
"The killing of young Daniel McColgan what political agenda did that serve and what threat did they young man pose to anyone? This was a blatant sectarian killing and it was far from being the first.
"Ambulance drivers, firemen, bus drivers, teachers, DHSS staff, bread men, construction workers, factory workers all these professions and more have,over the years, been made a target by these sectarian thugs. But if Daniel was not the first then we must insist that he be the last," Mr. Brady said.
Demanding the withdrawal of all paramilitary threats against people going to their work, Mr. Brady said those responsible must also go further.
"We insist that they accept that never again must a man or woman going to or from their workplace or carrying out their public duty be seen as a legitimate target simply because of their perceived religious beliefs. What is the point of withdrawing a threat today if it can just as easily be reissued tomorrow?" he asked. Warning that sectarianism did not operate in a vacuum, he stressed that it existed in society where social and economic deprivation and inequality existed.
"Unemployment, poor housing, low-paid jobs, lack of social amenities, an under-funded health service with undervalued staff these are all social evils which must be addressed before we can begin to tackle the problem of deep rooted sectarianism," he said.
Mr. Brady continued: "The organisers of this rally made a conscious decision not to invite politicians onto the platform today. And we had valid reasons for doing so. Far too often the position of these politicians and the role they play is ambiguous. Our message must be quite clear. We can no long share a platform with politicians who can condemn the actions of one paramilitary group and become apologists for another."
Mr. Brady said the pursuit of peace must most be a minor detail in the lives of political representatives. It must be their consuming passion.
The GMB shopsteward at Desmonds continued: "Time after time, year after year, we have re-elected them on the promise of peace only to see them return to Westminster or the Assembly and continue to engage in shallow sectarian bickering and political posturing.
"What we have to tell the politicians today is that we are wary of it all. We are tired and worn out. We have marched to the top of the hill and down again too many times now, and still we are no further forward.
"Indeed, if we look at the events of the last week it could appear we are right back where we started. And part of the blame for this lies with them. For some of them it is their failure to outrightly condemn the actions of the paramilitaries and for all of them it is their failure to secure a sustainable peace."
Mrs. Olive Wylie, of UNISON, who represented hospital workers, told the rally that the last time she had stood at Omagh Courthouse it was in an effort to save jobs and acute services at Tyrone County Hospital.
However, she said it was "with a sense of shame" that people had gathered in the town centre on Friday to express abhorrence at the shooting of Mr. McColgan, and the threats that existed against postmen, teachers and other school based staff.
"And let us not forget also, the threats that still exist to schoolchildren whatever their religion," she said.
Condemning politicians who alleged that people were being duped into attending rallies across the Province, Mrs. Wylie said the rallies were far removed from subtle hoaxes.
"There is nothing subtle or hoaxy about a post man having to look over his shoulder with every step he takes. There is nothing subtle or hoaxy about a school teacher wondering all the time if she will get home unhindered, or a school caretaker the last person to leave fearing the approaching darkness, or, indeed, the schoolchild unable to concentrate for fear of the bus journey home." Mrs. Wylie said. The UNISON representative said that these were examples of very real fears that people held, and people did, with very real cause, feel frightened.
Mrs. Wylie went on to vow that the Trade Union Movement would never allow threats to go unchallenged.
"As Trade Unionists our strength in our daily workings is our ability to be able to distinguish right from wrong, fair from unfair, truth from lies. Not only to distinguish but also to fight for what is just, and that is why we are here today." she said. The Resolution, which brought the rally to a close was read by Una Armstrong, a member of NIFSA, who represented the social service workers in Omagh. In it she called for the right for people to go freely to and from work, free from threats and free from the fear of sectarianism and sectarian attacks.
"This rally calls for the right to work, free from these attacks. This rally supports the right to an education, free from sectarian attack. This rally congratulates the postal workers who, by their courageous stand, have forced the withdrawal of threats, not only against themselves but against other sections of workers.
"This rally affirms that the social and economic inequalities that contribute to the maintenance of sectarianism have to be addressed with decent housing and real jobs, which we believe are basic rights for all. This rally affirms that there can be no going back to the dark days of the Troubles and calls on all those organisations which want to drag us back to stop their activities now, once and for all," she said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0998
Published Date: 24-Jan-02
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