BOMB BEREAVED TO CONSIDER THEIR NEXT MOVE
Bomb bereaved to consider their next move
THE Omagh Support and Self-Help Group will now consider their next move following Tuesday's council meeting, and decide whether to take up the offer of a meeting, Mr Michael Gallagher, the chairman, said on Wednesday.
Mr Gallagher told the 'Tyrone Constitution' relatives had been disappointed at the outcome.
He said it seemed that some councillors had acted as defence counsel for Mr Mackey.
There was a wider debate than just displaying a picture, Mr Gallagher said. There was, he said, a question of morality involved.
The Omagh bombing had been the worst terrorist incident in Europe in 1998 and the worst single incident in the history of the troubles, Mr Gallagher said. Yet the district council continued to have on display the photograph of someone who had on many occasions refused to condemn it.
"What message does that send out to visitors?", he asked.
Mr Gallagher said the group had video evidence of Mr Mackey refusing to condemn the Omagh bombing. In 2000, the group had picketed a function in London to raise funds for prisoners.
Mr Mackey was in attendance and was challenged five times to condemn the bombing, but refused to.
"If, at that time, anyone had been convicted in relation to the Omagh bombing, then effectively Mr Mackey would have been helping to raise money for them, " Mr Gallagher said.
Mr Gallagher said that the US State Department had declared that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the Real IRA were "one and the same" and barred representatives from entering the USA.
Mr Gallagher said the group had hoped that the council would be wise enough to see the point that was being made and the impression that was being given by continuing to display the photograph.
THE Omagh Support and Self-Help Group will now consider their next move following Tuesday's council meeting, and decide whether to take up the offer of a meeting, Mr Michael Gallagher, the chairman, said on Wednesday.
Mr Gallagher told the 'Tyrone Constitution' relatives had been disappointed at the outcome.
He said it seemed that some councillors had acted as defence counsel for Mr Mackey.
There was a wider debate than just displaying a picture, Mr Gallagher said. There was, he said, a question of morality involved.
The Omagh bombing had been the worst terrorist incident in Europe in 1998 and the worst single incident in the history of the troubles, Mr Gallagher said. Yet the district council continued to have on display the photograph of someone who had on many occasions refused to condemn it.
"What message does that send out to visitors?", he asked.
Mr Gallagher said the group had video evidence of Mr Mackey refusing to condemn the Omagh bombing. In 2000, the group had picketed a function in London to raise funds for prisoners.
Mr Mackey was in attendance and was challenged five times to condemn the bombing, but refused to.
"If, at that time, anyone had been convicted in relation to the Omagh bombing, then effectively Mr Mackey would have been helping to raise money for them, " Mr Gallagher said.
Mr Gallagher said that the US State Department had declared that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and the Real IRA were "one and the same" and barred representatives from entering the USA.
Mr Gallagher said the group had hoped that the council would be wise enough to see the point that was being made and the impression that was being given by continuing to display the photograph.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1597
Published Date: 06-Feb-03
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