SIR REG OFFERS SUPPORT TO OMAGH VICTIMS
Sir Reg offers support to Omagh victims
ULSTER Unionist leader, Sir Reg Empey, has lent his support to the campaign for a full cross-border public inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bomb, which claimed the lives of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
During a visit to West Tyrone on Tuesday, Sir Reg met with a number of the families of the Omagh bomb victims at the offices of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, located on Holmview Terrace in the town.
Speaking after the short meeting, group chairman, Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden was killed in the bomb, said: "We thanked Sir Reg for his support for a call for a cross-border public inquiry. We also talked about other victims-related issues, and it was agreed that a follow-up meeting would be arranged to continue to focus on the Omagh bomb and the wider victims sector."
Before he left, the Ulster Unionist leader was presented with a DVD of the award-winning film made about the 1998 terrorist atrocity, 'Omagh', as well as a guide for victims and survivors, which was put together by the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, and also Graham Spencer's book, called 'Omagh - Voices of Loss'. Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher revealed that the Omagh victims group were stepping up their efforts to pressurize the British and Irish governments into granting a public inquiry.
As well as the meeting with Sir Reg, they have met with the new victims commissioner, Bertha McDougall, and are also meeting Human Rights Commissioner, Monica McWilliams, and Garda commissioner, Noel Conroy.
Mr Gallagher said: "We have continued to try and put pressure on the British and Irish governments, the politicians and the church leaders to recognise our need for a full public inquiry because we feel that the victims have now reached a point when we do want public closure on Omagh.
"We feel the only way that can happen is when all the facts are examined in a public, open and transparent way, and then we can get on with our own lives."
ULSTER Unionist leader, Sir Reg Empey, has lent his support to the campaign for a full cross-border public inquiry into the 1998 Omagh bomb, which claimed the lives of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
During a visit to West Tyrone on Tuesday, Sir Reg met with a number of the families of the Omagh bomb victims at the offices of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, located on Holmview Terrace in the town.
Speaking after the short meeting, group chairman, Michael Gallagher, whose 21-year-old son Aiden was killed in the bomb, said: "We thanked Sir Reg for his support for a call for a cross-border public inquiry. We also talked about other victims-related issues, and it was agreed that a follow-up meeting would be arranged to continue to focus on the Omagh bomb and the wider victims sector."
Before he left, the Ulster Unionist leader was presented with a DVD of the award-winning film made about the 1998 terrorist atrocity, 'Omagh', as well as a guide for victims and survivors, which was put together by the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, and also Graham Spencer's book, called 'Omagh - Voices of Loss'. Meanwhile, Mr Gallagher revealed that the Omagh victims group were stepping up their efforts to pressurize the British and Irish governments into granting a public inquiry.
As well as the meeting with Sir Reg, they have met with the new victims commissioner, Bertha McDougall, and are also meeting Human Rights Commissioner, Monica McWilliams, and Garda commissioner, Noel Conroy.
Mr Gallagher said: "We have continued to try and put pressure on the British and Irish governments, the politicians and the church leaders to recognise our need for a full public inquiry because we feel that the victims have now reached a point when we do want public closure on Omagh.
"We feel the only way that can happen is when all the facts are examined in a public, open and transparent way, and then we can get on with our own lives."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1828
Published Date: 19-Jan-06
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