BEREAVED HUSBAND HANDS OVER DOCUMENTS
Bereaved husband hands over documents
AS part of his visit to Omagh, the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, spent around 30 minutes with relatives of the victims of the Omagh bomb at a private meeting in the council nearly twice the scheduled amount of time allocated for this meeting.
Documents were handed to Mr. Ahern during the meeting which are said to have "raised hairs". It is understood that representatives of seven or eight families were present.
Speaking afterwards, Mr. Laurence Rush, who lost his wife, Libby, in the bombing, said that the brevity of the meeting didn't allow for in depth argument and discussion about things that they were concerned about.
Mr. Rush asked Mr. Ahern was it coincidental they met today, the day before the Nally Report was to be finally debated in the Dail.
Mr. Rush said he did not receive the invitation to the meeting until it dropped on his doorstep the previous morning. He said the visit was simply a courtesy call, but one which was very cordial.
"I think some of the people were maybe a little bit in awe of the Taoiseach speaking and he spoke fairly well and fairly lengthily.
"He is very pleasant and a good politician. I think he is fairly sure of where he stands, but as I reminded him he is the Taoiseach the buck stops there, very simply.
"I have given him some documents which has raised the hairs, and he knows exactly what I am talking about - people who should be in jail who I am not allowed to follow. I am criminalised if I ask anything about these people. I am afraid he was very surprised and he took copies of this evidence."
Mr. Rush said he thought Mr. Ahern gave them some hope "but after all it's coming up to six years and we need a little bit more than hope we need justice".
"He will be meeting with me again. He has to decipher the evidence which I have given him."
Mr. Rush has also met with Enda Kenny, the leader of the opposition.
AS part of his visit to Omagh, the Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern, spent around 30 minutes with relatives of the victims of the Omagh bomb at a private meeting in the council nearly twice the scheduled amount of time allocated for this meeting.
Documents were handed to Mr. Ahern during the meeting which are said to have "raised hairs". It is understood that representatives of seven or eight families were present.
Speaking afterwards, Mr. Laurence Rush, who lost his wife, Libby, in the bombing, said that the brevity of the meeting didn't allow for in depth argument and discussion about things that they were concerned about.
Mr. Rush asked Mr. Ahern was it coincidental they met today, the day before the Nally Report was to be finally debated in the Dail.
Mr. Rush said he did not receive the invitation to the meeting until it dropped on his doorstep the previous morning. He said the visit was simply a courtesy call, but one which was very cordial.
"I think some of the people were maybe a little bit in awe of the Taoiseach speaking and he spoke fairly well and fairly lengthily.
"He is very pleasant and a good politician. I think he is fairly sure of where he stands, but as I reminded him he is the Taoiseach the buck stops there, very simply.
"I have given him some documents which has raised the hairs, and he knows exactly what I am talking about - people who should be in jail who I am not allowed to follow. I am criminalised if I ask anything about these people. I am afraid he was very surprised and he took copies of this evidence."
Mr. Rush said he thought Mr. Ahern gave them some hope "but after all it's coming up to six years and we need a little bit more than hope we need justice".
"He will be meeting with me again. He has to decipher the evidence which I have given him."
Mr. Rush has also met with Enda Kenny, the leader of the opposition.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1690
Published Date: 26-Feb-04
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