REVULSION WAS ABSOLUTE AND CLEAR
Revulsion was absolute and clear'
THE Omagh bomb blast was a defining moment in the political development of Nothern Ireland, West Tyrone SDLP Assemblyman Mr. Joe Byrne, said.
The bombing came as a shock, and at a time when most people felt that a more peaceful climate had been developing since the referendum in May, he told the Assembly.
"The people of Ireland were totally shocked and saddened that Irish Republicans at this time in our history could be so off-beam and act alien to the wishes of the people, who, quite simply, want peace, and a chance to allow the political process to develop," he said.
He said dissident republicans had wanted a spectacular attack in order to wreck the peace process. Many people in Omagh felt that the casualties were factored into the bomb attack in order to make the necessary impact and prevent political progress.
He went on: "It is, however, a sad fact that the overkill outcome, when 28 people were killed and 200 injured, many very seriously, brought everyone, including most senior political leaders, to their senses and forced them to stay with the peace process at this crucial time.
"Public opinion and revulsion throughout Ireland at this bombing was absolute and clear - no one could justify such an atrocity. The two Governments had to act in unison like never before in order to reflect the mood and anger."
"Omagh is a unique town in Northern Ireland because it has always been a model town for tolerance and accommodation between Catholics and Protestants, and between Nationalists and Unionists. The people who live in Omagh, or work in it, or indeed shop in it have always been comfortable with each other.
Angry
"People feel very angry, therefore, that any terrorist group should choose to bring a bomb into the heart of Omagh on a busy Saturday afternoon, seemingly intent on causing maximum damage and destruction to people and their property."
I as a public representative of the people of Omagh have to ask: "What kind of patriotism is this?"
"What kind of humanity do we have on display by bombing a crowded civilian shopping scene (such) as that of Market Street, Omagh and causing so much human carnage."
"Quite simply, nothing in the wide world could justify the killing of our good people in such an inhuman and callous way,"
Mr. Byrne said the blast had, at long last, cleared away a lot of the fog of ambivalence to political violence in Ireland.
"Many people who have been reluctant to speak out about bombings and killings over recent times have been shaken to their moral and political foundation," he said.
The reality is that the so-called brave people who plan and plant bombs are not so brave in helping the dead and injured as a result of their evil and wicket deeds.
"The ambulance men and women, the firemen, police-officers, voluntary corps groups and clergy, along with the ordinary people who help others at the scene of the bombs like Omagh are much braver than the people who who plan and plant these bombs," Mr. Byrne added.
The people of Omagh had been touched by the messages of support and sympathy which had flooded in, Mr. Byrne said.
"Hopefully, the terrorist -minded people will finally get the message that they are out of touch and out of order in wanting to impose their narrow-minded will on the vast majority of people who only want peace and civilised politics working in a more harmonious atmosphere."
"We can only hope that there will be no more Omagh bombs," he said.
His party colleague, Mr. Eugene McMenamin, said the entire civilised world now equated the name Omagh with atrocity and the vileness of man's inhumanity to man.
"In the annals of our tragic history, Omagh will symbolise the levels of inhumanity barbarity into which our little land had been plunged time and time again," he said.
He said young minds had been blighted and disillusioned by the absence of peace in Northern Ireland. This, he said, was not the legacy anyone would wish to bequeath to their son's and daughter's.
"Let this Assembly's work ensure that a new day has indeed dawned. Let us work together in a spirit of co-operation and mutual respect to guarantee that the new day will bring peace, prosperity and the joy of living to our young coming behind us," he said.
THE Omagh bomb blast was a defining moment in the political development of Nothern Ireland, West Tyrone SDLP Assemblyman Mr. Joe Byrne, said.
The bombing came as a shock, and at a time when most people felt that a more peaceful climate had been developing since the referendum in May, he told the Assembly.
"The people of Ireland were totally shocked and saddened that Irish Republicans at this time in our history could be so off-beam and act alien to the wishes of the people, who, quite simply, want peace, and a chance to allow the political process to develop," he said.
He said dissident republicans had wanted a spectacular attack in order to wreck the peace process. Many people in Omagh felt that the casualties were factored into the bomb attack in order to make the necessary impact and prevent political progress.
He went on: "It is, however, a sad fact that the overkill outcome, when 28 people were killed and 200 injured, many very seriously, brought everyone, including most senior political leaders, to their senses and forced them to stay with the peace process at this crucial time.
"Public opinion and revulsion throughout Ireland at this bombing was absolute and clear - no one could justify such an atrocity. The two Governments had to act in unison like never before in order to reflect the mood and anger."
"Omagh is a unique town in Northern Ireland because it has always been a model town for tolerance and accommodation between Catholics and Protestants, and between Nationalists and Unionists. The people who live in Omagh, or work in it, or indeed shop in it have always been comfortable with each other.
Angry
"People feel very angry, therefore, that any terrorist group should choose to bring a bomb into the heart of Omagh on a busy Saturday afternoon, seemingly intent on causing maximum damage and destruction to people and their property."
I as a public representative of the people of Omagh have to ask: "What kind of patriotism is this?"
"What kind of humanity do we have on display by bombing a crowded civilian shopping scene (such) as that of Market Street, Omagh and causing so much human carnage."
"Quite simply, nothing in the wide world could justify the killing of our good people in such an inhuman and callous way,"
Mr. Byrne said the blast had, at long last, cleared away a lot of the fog of ambivalence to political violence in Ireland.
"Many people who have been reluctant to speak out about bombings and killings over recent times have been shaken to their moral and political foundation," he said.
The reality is that the so-called brave people who plan and plant bombs are not so brave in helping the dead and injured as a result of their evil and wicket deeds.
"The ambulance men and women, the firemen, police-officers, voluntary corps groups and clergy, along with the ordinary people who help others at the scene of the bombs like Omagh are much braver than the people who who plan and plant these bombs," Mr. Byrne added.
The people of Omagh had been touched by the messages of support and sympathy which had flooded in, Mr. Byrne said.
"Hopefully, the terrorist -minded people will finally get the message that they are out of touch and out of order in wanting to impose their narrow-minded will on the vast majority of people who only want peace and civilised politics working in a more harmonious atmosphere."
"We can only hope that there will be no more Omagh bombs," he said.
His party colleague, Mr. Eugene McMenamin, said the entire civilised world now equated the name Omagh with atrocity and the vileness of man's inhumanity to man.
"In the annals of our tragic history, Omagh will symbolise the levels of inhumanity barbarity into which our little land had been plunged time and time again," he said.
He said young minds had been blighted and disillusioned by the absence of peace in Northern Ireland. This, he said, was not the legacy anyone would wish to bequeath to their son's and daughter's.
"Let this Assembly's work ensure that a new day has indeed dawned. Let us work together in a spirit of co-operation and mutual respect to guarantee that the new day will bring peace, prosperity and the joy of living to our young coming behind us," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1208
Published Date: 17-Sep-98
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