BOMB BEREAVED SEEK SUPPORT OF IRISH HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
Bomb bereaved seek support of Irish Human Rights Commission
by Claire Anthony
FAMILIES of those killed in the Omagh bomb have met with the president of the Irish Human Rights Commission, Mr Maurice Manning, to discuss their ongoing campaign for a cross-border inquiry into the events surrounding the atrocity.
The VIP visit took place on Thursday last, when Mr Manning arrived at the offices of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group for an informal meeting with some of the families of the Omagh victims.
Speaking to the Tyrone Constitution ahead of the meeting, Mr Manning said that it was still unclear whether legislation would allow the Commission to come in behind the families in their campaign, but stressed that if he was in a position to help, he would do so to the best of his ability.
Chairman of the Omagh Group, Mr Michael Gallagher, said that the meeting had gone very well, and that he hoped there would be a positive outcome.
He said: "The meeting went very well, and we have agreed to go down to Dublin and make a presentation to the other members of the Irish
Human Rights Commission. The date has not yet been set for that, but we are hoping to agree a date shortly when we can travel to Dublin.
"We left him in no doubt as to what we want; we are asking the Irish Human Rights Commission to come behind us in our call for a full, cross-border inquiry. He was very sympathetic to that call, and when we meet in Dublin we will be able to explore this further," he added.
Speaking from Dublin on Monday, Mr Manning agreed that the meeting had been very successful, although he admitted that further talks would be necessary to establish whether or not the Commission could formally back their campaign.
He said: "As far as I was concerned it was really a very positive meeting. We are arranging for the group to come and meet with the Human Rights Commission in Dublin in the very near future, when they will make a presentation to us, and we will take things from there."
by Claire Anthony
FAMILIES of those killed in the Omagh bomb have met with the president of the Irish Human Rights Commission, Mr Maurice Manning, to discuss their ongoing campaign for a cross-border inquiry into the events surrounding the atrocity.
The VIP visit took place on Thursday last, when Mr Manning arrived at the offices of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group for an informal meeting with some of the families of the Omagh victims.
Speaking to the Tyrone Constitution ahead of the meeting, Mr Manning said that it was still unclear whether legislation would allow the Commission to come in behind the families in their campaign, but stressed that if he was in a position to help, he would do so to the best of his ability.
Chairman of the Omagh Group, Mr Michael Gallagher, said that the meeting had gone very well, and that he hoped there would be a positive outcome.
He said: "The meeting went very well, and we have agreed to go down to Dublin and make a presentation to the other members of the Irish
Human Rights Commission. The date has not yet been set for that, but we are hoping to agree a date shortly when we can travel to Dublin.
"We left him in no doubt as to what we want; we are asking the Irish Human Rights Commission to come behind us in our call for a full, cross-border inquiry. He was very sympathetic to that call, and when we meet in Dublin we will be able to explore this further," he added.
Speaking from Dublin on Monday, Mr Manning agreed that the meeting had been very successful, although he admitted that further talks would be necessary to establish whether or not the Commission could formally back their campaign.
He said: "As far as I was concerned it was really a very positive meeting. We are arranging for the group to come and meet with the Human Rights Commission in Dublin in the very near future, when they will make a presentation to us, and we will take things from there."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1786
Published Date: 10-Feb-05
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