BOMB BEREAVED IN MOVE TO GET WEBSITE SHUT DOWN
Bomb bereaved in move to get website shut down
RELATIVES of those killed in the 1998 Omagh bombing have been assured that the US government will do what it can to help shut down a website linked to the terror group behind the atrocity.
Support from the US government was reinforced on Thursday of last week, when representatives of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group met with US Consul General to Belfast, Howard Dean Pittman.
Relatives of some of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, who died in the Real IRA atrocity, spent over an hour in talks with Mr Pittman.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aiden, died in the blast, said they were anxious to have the website of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement closed, especially its notice-board, which he described as particularly offensive.
He said: "Mr Pittman said if there was anything they could do they would do it in support of the families.
"The website service provider is in Canada, but it has a sister company in the US.
"The consul general said he had already talked to the US embassy in London about the issue and had been asked by London to talk to the families," said Mr Gallagher.
"There was nothing he could guarantee us, except that our allegations about the site would be seriously looked at and if it is possible to do something they will do it.
"He said the US has very good relations with Canada.
"We are asking the US government to talk to their Canadian cousins and say this website is contrary to the current climate of putting pressure on terrorists and terrorist supporters."
Mr Gallagher added that he felt the meeting had gone well and that Mr Pittman had pledged to keep them informed of any progress.
The families used the meeting to thank the US administration for their support in the �14 million civil action against five men they suspect of plotting the bombing.
The landmark case at the High Court in Belfast will not be heard until after the trial of south Armagh man, Sean Hoey, the only man accused of the Omagh bombing.
Mr Gallagher said they also thanked the US administration for their help in getting the leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, convicted in the Republic.
It was American FBI agent David Rupert who infiltrated the terror group and provided evidence which was key to the conviction.
RELATIVES of those killed in the 1998 Omagh bombing have been assured that the US government will do what it can to help shut down a website linked to the terror group behind the atrocity.
Support from the US government was reinforced on Thursday of last week, when representatives of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group met with US Consul General to Belfast, Howard Dean Pittman.
Relatives of some of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, who died in the Real IRA atrocity, spent over an hour in talks with Mr Pittman.
Michael Gallagher, whose son, Aiden, died in the blast, said they were anxious to have the website of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement closed, especially its notice-board, which he described as particularly offensive.
He said: "Mr Pittman said if there was anything they could do they would do it in support of the families.
"The website service provider is in Canada, but it has a sister company in the US.
"The consul general said he had already talked to the US embassy in London about the issue and had been asked by London to talk to the families," said Mr Gallagher.
"There was nothing he could guarantee us, except that our allegations about the site would be seriously looked at and if it is possible to do something they will do it.
"He said the US has very good relations with Canada.
"We are asking the US government to talk to their Canadian cousins and say this website is contrary to the current climate of putting pressure on terrorists and terrorist supporters."
Mr Gallagher added that he felt the meeting had gone well and that Mr Pittman had pledged to keep them informed of any progress.
The families used the meeting to thank the US administration for their support in the �14 million civil action against five men they suspect of plotting the bombing.
The landmark case at the High Court in Belfast will not be heard until after the trial of south Armagh man, Sean Hoey, the only man accused of the Omagh bombing.
Mr Gallagher said they also thanked the US administration for their help in getting the leader of the Real IRA, Michael McKevitt, convicted in the Republic.
It was American FBI agent David Rupert who infiltrated the terror group and provided evidence which was key to the conviction.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1835
Published Date: 18-May-06
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