IRISH PREMIER JOINS OMAGH COMMEMORATION
Irish Premier joins Omagh Commemoration
Irish Premier, Brian Cowen, attended Friday's commemoration service, offering his condolences to those bereaved or injured by the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity, and commending the work of those individuals and agencies which rose to the challenges of the hours, days, weeks and months that followed.
"This is a very poignant occasion - the 10th anniversary of the most terrible atrocity of the troubles", he said
"I come here today simply as Taoiseach of Ireland, to stand here in solidarity with this community as they try to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives."
Congratulating organizers on the 'moving ceremony' he said it was 'wonderful example of cross-community solidarity at a very difficult time for the families bereaved, and also for the very many who were injured and carry those injuries this day and into the future".
He said it was also an "opportunity to recall and remember the excellent work of the emergency services and medical staff, who provided such wonderful assistance at a terrible time."
On whether he would support a cross-border public inquiry, he said that the ongoing civil action being pursued by some Omagh families is covering 'much of that ground'.
He said "The civil action seems to be the best means by which they can find out exactly what happened on that occasion."
Noting the senselessness of the attack on Omagh, he said that the town was a "great example of the resilience of the human spirit".
He added: "One can only offer our prayers and our sympathies and our solidarity to the people who have suffered so grievously, and say to them that the political process is the means by which you can move forward and find new directions, new opportunities, new possibilities, for lives that have been affected and in some cases shattered," he added.
The Real IRA, he said, "have no business engagements in any nefarious activities".
Mr Cowan concluded: "People have spoken, people want to have a peaceful future together, and they are the antithesis of all the decency and the effort and the hope that is represented by the political process we are engaged in."
Irish Premier, Brian Cowen, attended Friday's commemoration service, offering his condolences to those bereaved or injured by the 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity, and commending the work of those individuals and agencies which rose to the challenges of the hours, days, weeks and months that followed.
"This is a very poignant occasion - the 10th anniversary of the most terrible atrocity of the troubles", he said
"I come here today simply as Taoiseach of Ireland, to stand here in solidarity with this community as they try to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives."
Congratulating organizers on the 'moving ceremony' he said it was 'wonderful example of cross-community solidarity at a very difficult time for the families bereaved, and also for the very many who were injured and carry those injuries this day and into the future".
He said it was also an "opportunity to recall and remember the excellent work of the emergency services and medical staff, who provided such wonderful assistance at a terrible time."
On whether he would support a cross-border public inquiry, he said that the ongoing civil action being pursued by some Omagh families is covering 'much of that ground'.
He said "The civil action seems to be the best means by which they can find out exactly what happened on that occasion."
Noting the senselessness of the attack on Omagh, he said that the town was a "great example of the resilience of the human spirit".
He added: "One can only offer our prayers and our sympathies and our solidarity to the people who have suffered so grievously, and say to them that the political process is the means by which you can move forward and find new directions, new opportunities, new possibilities, for lives that have been affected and in some cases shattered," he added.
The Real IRA, he said, "have no business engagements in any nefarious activities".
Mr Cowan concluded: "People have spoken, people want to have a peaceful future together, and they are the antithesis of all the decency and the effort and the hope that is represented by the political process we are engaged in."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC10An/48
Published Date: 21-Aug-08
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