DISBELIEF AT IRISH PREMIER'S REFUSAL TO MEET OMAGH FAMILIES
Disbelief at Irish Premier's refusal to meet Omagh families
MEMBERS of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group this week said they were disturbed by the refusal of the Irish Premier, Bertie Ahern, to meet members of the group in the face of the fifth anniversary of the bombing.
The group had written to the Taoiseach requesting a meeting to discuss "issues of concern", but the Irish Premier told them that due to his heavy schedule of diary commitments, he regretted that he was not in a position to accede to their request.
Instead, members of the group were told that their correspondence had been passed to Mr. Ahern's colleague, Mr. Brian Cowen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and he would be replying to their request.
Members of the Support Group, who have mounted a Civil legal action against five members of the Real IRA the organisation which claimed responsibility for the attack said that Mr. Ahern's response seemed extraordinary while they were trying to ensure those responsible were held to account.
"The very State from which the attack was mounted is doing very little to assist the innocent victims' families to bring the terrorists to court.
"This is all the more disturbing given that the Government has not charged one single individual with murder at Omagh. Would it be an embarrassment that we have to take justice into our own hands:" members of the Support Group said in their statement.
The statement continued: "We are at a loss to understand why they are not supporting the Civil action by the families by giving our lawyers the transcript of the trial of Mr. McKevitt, which is ongoing in Dublin at the moment. It would not cost a single penny. It is in contrast to how terrorists are treated, money is not a problem.
Chairman of the Omagh group, Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son, Adrian, died in the 3001b car bomb blast, commented: "I think that when the current terrorist-related trials are over, the Government should tell the Irish people the true cost about how much they have spent on
the defence of terrorists at home and abroad and how little it would have cost to assist the Omagh families. It leads me to think that there is a fine line between State and terrorists. This is compounded by the fact that the Taoiseach had continually declined to meet with us despite repeated requests. Where has the 'new world order' and the fight against terrorism gone?" Mr. Gallagher asked.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach's decision not to grant the Omagh Support Group a meeting, was condemned by the South's Labour spokesman on Justice, Mr. Joe Costello, TD.
He said the Premier's decision was "disappointing for the families of the victims" who had received little justice in return.
"The group has suffered setback after setback in its campaign for justice and this decision by Irish Government is most unhelpful. Michael McDowell has refused to give them access to the transcripts of the McKevitt trial, which includes vital information on events surrounding the Omagh bombing," he said.
The TD continued: "To compound this, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the families that his diary cannot facilitate a meeting with the families, and has instead passed the issue on to Brian Cowen.
"This is an unacceptable way of treating the memory of those who died in one of the biggest tragedies of the last 30 years. I am calling on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice to reverse their decisions, to meet with the families and to provide them every support available in their quest for justice," he said.
Mr. Costello added: "In the meantime, I intend meeting with the group to express their Labour Party's commitment to assisting them in any way we can."
Members of the Omagh group are currently trying to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Costello to discuss progress in the plight of the Omagh families and their search for justice.
MEMBERS of the Omagh Self-Help and Support Group this week said they were disturbed by the refusal of the Irish Premier, Bertie Ahern, to meet members of the group in the face of the fifth anniversary of the bombing.
The group had written to the Taoiseach requesting a meeting to discuss "issues of concern", but the Irish Premier told them that due to his heavy schedule of diary commitments, he regretted that he was not in a position to accede to their request.
Instead, members of the group were told that their correspondence had been passed to Mr. Ahern's colleague, Mr. Brian Cowen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and he would be replying to their request.
Members of the Support Group, who have mounted a Civil legal action against five members of the Real IRA the organisation which claimed responsibility for the attack said that Mr. Ahern's response seemed extraordinary while they were trying to ensure those responsible were held to account.
"The very State from which the attack was mounted is doing very little to assist the innocent victims' families to bring the terrorists to court.
"This is all the more disturbing given that the Government has not charged one single individual with murder at Omagh. Would it be an embarrassment that we have to take justice into our own hands:" members of the Support Group said in their statement.
The statement continued: "We are at a loss to understand why they are not supporting the Civil action by the families by giving our lawyers the transcript of the trial of Mr. McKevitt, which is ongoing in Dublin at the moment. It would not cost a single penny. It is in contrast to how terrorists are treated, money is not a problem.
Chairman of the Omagh group, Mr. Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son, Adrian, died in the 3001b car bomb blast, commented: "I think that when the current terrorist-related trials are over, the Government should tell the Irish people the true cost about how much they have spent on
the defence of terrorists at home and abroad and how little it would have cost to assist the Omagh families. It leads me to think that there is a fine line between State and terrorists. This is compounded by the fact that the Taoiseach had continually declined to meet with us despite repeated requests. Where has the 'new world order' and the fight against terrorism gone?" Mr. Gallagher asked.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach's decision not to grant the Omagh Support Group a meeting, was condemned by the South's Labour spokesman on Justice, Mr. Joe Costello, TD.
He said the Premier's decision was "disappointing for the families of the victims" who had received little justice in return.
"The group has suffered setback after setback in its campaign for justice and this decision by Irish Government is most unhelpful. Michael McDowell has refused to give them access to the transcripts of the McKevitt trial, which includes vital information on events surrounding the Omagh bombing," he said.
The TD continued: "To compound this, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told the families that his diary cannot facilitate a meeting with the families, and has instead passed the issue on to Brian Cowen.
"This is an unacceptable way of treating the memory of those who died in one of the biggest tragedies of the last 30 years. I am calling on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice to reverse their decisions, to meet with the families and to provide them every support available in their quest for justice," he said.
Mr. Costello added: "In the meantime, I intend meeting with the group to express their Labour Party's commitment to assisting them in any way we can."
Members of the Omagh group are currently trying to arrange a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Costello to discuss progress in the plight of the Omagh families and their search for justice.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1610
Published Date: 17-Jul-03
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