BOMB FAMILIES SEEK JUSTICE NOT APOLOGY
Bomb Families 'seek justice not apology'
by David Killen
IN A week in which the IRA issued an apology for murdering and maiming civilians over 30 years of the Trouble, relatives of some of those who died in the Omagh atrocity said they would find a similar apology from the Real IRA 'unacceptable'.
Just days before the 30th anniversary of Bloody Friday, one of the worst IRA attacks on civilians, the Provisionals offered "sincere apologies and condolences" to the families.
Nine people died and 130 were injured when 22 bombs exploded throughout Belfast on Friday, July 21, 1972.
There has been a mixed reaction to the apology. It was welcomed by the London and Dublin Governments and by some political parties, but dismissed by other politicians. Some of the relatives have also welcomed the apology, while others have rejected it out of hand.
On Wednesday, Mr Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help Group was asked what his reactions might be if the Real IRA, which carried out the Omagh bombing, was to make a similar apology.
Said Mr Gallagher: "I think for the families I am involved with it would be totally unacceptable. "
He added:"It is good that people recognise that there was wrongdoing, but there must be justice, and that is not to be confused with retribution or vindictiveness.
"We are looking for the law to be applied to these people who carried out the bombing."
Mr Gallagher said there were similarities between Bloody Friday and the Omagh atrocity. Both had claimed the lives of innocent, unsuspecting people going about their everyday lives, he added.
But Mr Gallagher also said that no apology could take away the wrong, or the hurt felt by the bereaved.
"Many of the perpetrators [of violent attacks] have gone on to prosper in their personal lives while the lives of the victims' families have taken a downturn they never recovered from," he said.
Mr Gallagher said many people felt that those who been engaged in violent acts and whose lives had prospered seemed to prefer to blame others, and were unwilling to apologise for their actions.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday of this week, Mr Gallagher and other Omagh relatives met the new officer in charge of the bomb investigation, Detective Superintendent Norman Baxter.
Difficult meeting
Said Mr Gallagher: "It was a difficult meeting for both sides. This was the first time we have had an opportunity to meet police since our meeting with Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
"There were some fairly heated times, but at the end the families thought it was worth the effort.
"No one is in any doubt about Norman Baxter's abilities, and he has a well proven track record.
"Fears were expressed that some politics were starting .to creep into the investigation but Supt Baxter assured us that any interference to prevent him getting at the truth would not be tolerated. That was the reassurance the families needed.
"We were reassured that the investigation was following a number of lines of enquiry and that it was live and ongoing. That is what we wanted to hear."
Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kincaid assured families that there would be no shortfall in resources available to the enquiry team.
"There were no hard and fast guarantees, but we are satisfied we will be an effective and professional investigation. I have no doubts that it will be well-policed from now on."
He said the families were also given an update about the claims by a Garda sergeant that he had passed warnings on to his superiors, but those had never been given to the RUC.
Mr Gallagher said there was a good cross-representation of families of the bereaved and from people who had been injured. Families of the Buncrana bereaved were also represented.
He said the relatives had been promised there would be regular meetings to keep them updated and they could also approach a newly-appointed liaison officer.
by David Killen
IN A week in which the IRA issued an apology for murdering and maiming civilians over 30 years of the Trouble, relatives of some of those who died in the Omagh atrocity said they would find a similar apology from the Real IRA 'unacceptable'.
Just days before the 30th anniversary of Bloody Friday, one of the worst IRA attacks on civilians, the Provisionals offered "sincere apologies and condolences" to the families.
Nine people died and 130 were injured when 22 bombs exploded throughout Belfast on Friday, July 21, 1972.
There has been a mixed reaction to the apology. It was welcomed by the London and Dublin Governments and by some political parties, but dismissed by other politicians. Some of the relatives have also welcomed the apology, while others have rejected it out of hand.
On Wednesday, Mr Michael Gallagher, chairman of the Omagh Self Help Group was asked what his reactions might be if the Real IRA, which carried out the Omagh bombing, was to make a similar apology.
Said Mr Gallagher: "I think for the families I am involved with it would be totally unacceptable. "
He added:"It is good that people recognise that there was wrongdoing, but there must be justice, and that is not to be confused with retribution or vindictiveness.
"We are looking for the law to be applied to these people who carried out the bombing."
Mr Gallagher said there were similarities between Bloody Friday and the Omagh atrocity. Both had claimed the lives of innocent, unsuspecting people going about their everyday lives, he added.
But Mr Gallagher also said that no apology could take away the wrong, or the hurt felt by the bereaved.
"Many of the perpetrators [of violent attacks] have gone on to prosper in their personal lives while the lives of the victims' families have taken a downturn they never recovered from," he said.
Mr Gallagher said many people felt that those who been engaged in violent acts and whose lives had prospered seemed to prefer to blame others, and were unwilling to apologise for their actions.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday of this week, Mr Gallagher and other Omagh relatives met the new officer in charge of the bomb investigation, Detective Superintendent Norman Baxter.
Difficult meeting
Said Mr Gallagher: "It was a difficult meeting for both sides. This was the first time we have had an opportunity to meet police since our meeting with Sir Ronnie Flanagan.
"There were some fairly heated times, but at the end the families thought it was worth the effort.
"No one is in any doubt about Norman Baxter's abilities, and he has a well proven track record.
"Fears were expressed that some politics were starting .to creep into the investigation but Supt Baxter assured us that any interference to prevent him getting at the truth would not be tolerated. That was the reassurance the families needed.
"We were reassured that the investigation was following a number of lines of enquiry and that it was live and ongoing. That is what we wanted to hear."
Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kincaid assured families that there would be no shortfall in resources available to the enquiry team.
"There were no hard and fast guarantees, but we are satisfied we will be an effective and professional investigation. I have no doubts that it will be well-policed from now on."
He said the families were also given an update about the claims by a Garda sergeant that he had passed warnings on to his superiors, but those had never been given to the RUC.
Mr Gallagher said there was a good cross-representation of families of the bereaved and from people who had been injured. Families of the Buncrana bereaved were also represented.
He said the relatives had been promised there would be regular meetings to keep them updated and they could also approach a newly-appointed liaison officer.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1067
Published Date: 18-Jul-02
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