TWO HELD IN BOMB PROBE
Two held in Bomb probe
By Ruth McKee
Arrests raise hopes of bereaved families
A MAN and a woman arrested in the Jonesborough area of south Armagh were still being quizzed in connection with the Omagh bomb and other terrorist incidents yesterday afternoon (Wednesday). They were arrested during a major early morning operation the previous day.
According to police the pair are being questioned about a series of terrorist offences, including the 1998 Omagh bombing, in which 31 people, including unborn twins, were murdered. They are being detained at Gough Barracks in Armagh city.
They can be held for up to 48 hours before a decision has to be made by police to either charge, release, or seek an extension for further questioning.
Around 200 police and soldiers descended into the area some deployed by helicopter to make the arrests.
It is understood that a number of items were taken away from a house for forensic examination, including a small red van.
The development came on the same day as lawyers of the families of the victims travelled to Dublin for the first official meeting between lawyers
representing the families of the Omagh victims and the Irish justice minister, Michael McDowell.
The purpose of the meeting was to seek help in mounting civil cases against those they believe carried out the atrocity, and discuss what practical help the government could give to the families.
The British government has already promised �800,000 to assist in those cases, and now the lawyers have called for help from the Irish government.
Among their requests they sought permission to call gardai witnesses to testify in the civil trials.
Transcript
They have also called for the release of the transcript of the recent trial of Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt who was sentenced for 20 years for directing terrorism .
The evidence of the FBI agent David Rupert - crucial in jailing McKevitt -dealt in-part with events surrounding Omagh.
Michael McKevitt, along with Colm Murphy - the only person who has been convicted in connection with the Omagh bombing - are being sued by Omagh relatives through the civil courts.
Solicitor for the victims, Jason McCue, said: "The Irish government has agreed to help in a number of key areas and has pledged support."
Meanwhile, Michael Gallagher, chairman of Omagh Victims' Group, whose son, Aiden, was killed in the atrocity, said: "The real test will be in the delivery."
Speaking about the arrests in South Armagh on Tuesday morning, Mr. Gallagher said that it is the sort of news they have been waiting for, for five years.
"I don't believe that such a large operation would have been mounted unless the police had good cause to carry out the operation.
Live investigation
"It's further evidence that this is a very, live investigation, and it would be ironic if one or other of these people were charged, and were to appear at Omagh courthouse, the very courthouse that they set out to destroy on the day of the bomb," he said.
Joe Byrne, SDLP councillor and Policing Board member, has welcomed the arrests of the two people.
"All efforts must be pursued by the PSNI and the gardai to bring to justice anyone associated or involved in the Omagh bombing," he said.
Mr. Byrne said it was imperative for public confidence in policing that the criminal investigation was successful in apprehending those responsible for the worst bombing atrocity in the history of the troubles in Northern Ireland.
"Maximum co-operation between the police services on both parts of the island is crucial and must be seen to be effective in bringing to justice those responsible for the Omagh outrage and thwarting any potential acts of cross-border terrorism in the future," said Mr. Byrne.
On Monday, the Omagh Victims' Group is travelling to Dublin to meet the Irish justice minister, Michael McDowell.
Mr. Gallagher explained the group had been assured that Omagh was the largest murder investigation in the province and they will be asking the Minister what the status was of the team in the south.
"We are kept in the dark and feel we have to go in at this level to have our questions answered.
"One of the main areas we will be discussing on Monday, is the Nally Inquiry, the three-man team that has been sitting in Dublin for the past 18 months, examining allegations that the gardai had prior knowledge of Omagh.
Mr. Gallagher feels a lot of information that could help the inquiry hasn't come out into the public domain.
"I think that is because it would be embarrassing to the government. We want to put on the pressure," he said.
By Ruth McKee
Arrests raise hopes of bereaved families
A MAN and a woman arrested in the Jonesborough area of south Armagh were still being quizzed in connection with the Omagh bomb and other terrorist incidents yesterday afternoon (Wednesday). They were arrested during a major early morning operation the previous day.
According to police the pair are being questioned about a series of terrorist offences, including the 1998 Omagh bombing, in which 31 people, including unborn twins, were murdered. They are being detained at Gough Barracks in Armagh city.
They can be held for up to 48 hours before a decision has to be made by police to either charge, release, or seek an extension for further questioning.
Around 200 police and soldiers descended into the area some deployed by helicopter to make the arrests.
It is understood that a number of items were taken away from a house for forensic examination, including a small red van.
The development came on the same day as lawyers of the families of the victims travelled to Dublin for the first official meeting between lawyers
representing the families of the Omagh victims and the Irish justice minister, Michael McDowell.
The purpose of the meeting was to seek help in mounting civil cases against those they believe carried out the atrocity, and discuss what practical help the government could give to the families.
The British government has already promised �800,000 to assist in those cases, and now the lawyers have called for help from the Irish government.
Among their requests they sought permission to call gardai witnesses to testify in the civil trials.
Transcript
They have also called for the release of the transcript of the recent trial of Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt who was sentenced for 20 years for directing terrorism .
The evidence of the FBI agent David Rupert - crucial in jailing McKevitt -dealt in-part with events surrounding Omagh.
Michael McKevitt, along with Colm Murphy - the only person who has been convicted in connection with the Omagh bombing - are being sued by Omagh relatives through the civil courts.
Solicitor for the victims, Jason McCue, said: "The Irish government has agreed to help in a number of key areas and has pledged support."
Meanwhile, Michael Gallagher, chairman of Omagh Victims' Group, whose son, Aiden, was killed in the atrocity, said: "The real test will be in the delivery."
Speaking about the arrests in South Armagh on Tuesday morning, Mr. Gallagher said that it is the sort of news they have been waiting for, for five years.
"I don't believe that such a large operation would have been mounted unless the police had good cause to carry out the operation.
Live investigation
"It's further evidence that this is a very, live investigation, and it would be ironic if one or other of these people were charged, and were to appear at Omagh courthouse, the very courthouse that they set out to destroy on the day of the bomb," he said.
Joe Byrne, SDLP councillor and Policing Board member, has welcomed the arrests of the two people.
"All efforts must be pursued by the PSNI and the gardai to bring to justice anyone associated or involved in the Omagh bombing," he said.
Mr. Byrne said it was imperative for public confidence in policing that the criminal investigation was successful in apprehending those responsible for the worst bombing atrocity in the history of the troubles in Northern Ireland.
"Maximum co-operation between the police services on both parts of the island is crucial and must be seen to be effective in bringing to justice those responsible for the Omagh outrage and thwarting any potential acts of cross-border terrorism in the future," said Mr. Byrne.
On Monday, the Omagh Victims' Group is travelling to Dublin to meet the Irish justice minister, Michael McDowell.
Mr. Gallagher explained the group had been assured that Omagh was the largest murder investigation in the province and they will be asking the Minister what the status was of the team in the south.
"We are kept in the dark and feel we have to go in at this level to have our questions answered.
"One of the main areas we will be discussing on Monday, is the Nally Inquiry, the three-man team that has been sitting in Dublin for the past 18 months, examining allegations that the gardai had prior knowledge of Omagh.
Mr. Gallagher feels a lot of information that could help the inquiry hasn't come out into the public domain.
"I think that is because it would be embarrassing to the government. We want to put on the pressure," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1658
Published Date: 04-Sep-03
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.