VICTIMS' GROUP CHAIRMAN DISAPPOINTED OVER NON-APPEARANCE OF PMs
Victims' group chairman disappointed over non-appearance of PMs
OMAGH Victims' Group chairman, Mr. Michael Gallagher, has commented on the absence of the Irish premier, Mr. Bertie Ahern, and British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, at the memorial service to mark the fifth anniversary of the Omagh atrocity.
Mr. Gallagher claimed that it did not fit in with what the governments said after the Omagh bomb "That they would do everything possible within their power."
He added: "This is the fifth anniversary and they have had an opportunity to come on the four previous anniversaries and they haven't done so. Yes we are disappointed but we are grateful to the people who did come and we will use the opportunity to try and make our feelings known to the governments through those.
Mr. Gallagher said they felt that a greater effort could have been made, given that this was the last public or civic remembrance until the tenth anniversary.
"I feel that it would have been good for the families to have the leaders of both countries here and that's what we attempted to do," he said.
Speaking about the forthcoming meeting with the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, in September, Mr. Gallagher said they would be asking for full cooperation in the civil action that they are taking.
"There is a number of things that both the British and Irish governments could do to help move that forward and those are the areas we will be touching on," he said.
OMAGH Victims' Group chairman, Mr. Michael Gallagher, has commented on the absence of the Irish premier, Mr. Bertie Ahern, and British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, at the memorial service to mark the fifth anniversary of the Omagh atrocity.
Mr. Gallagher claimed that it did not fit in with what the governments said after the Omagh bomb "That they would do everything possible within their power."
He added: "This is the fifth anniversary and they have had an opportunity to come on the four previous anniversaries and they haven't done so. Yes we are disappointed but we are grateful to the people who did come and we will use the opportunity to try and make our feelings known to the governments through those.
Mr. Gallagher said they felt that a greater effort could have been made, given that this was the last public or civic remembrance until the tenth anniversary.
"I feel that it would have been good for the families to have the leaders of both countries here and that's what we attempted to do," he said.
Speaking about the forthcoming meeting with the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, in September, Mr. Gallagher said they would be asking for full cooperation in the civil action that they are taking.
"There is a number of things that both the British and Irish governments could do to help move that forward and those are the areas we will be touching on," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1656
Published Date: 21-Aug-03
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