BOMB VICTIM'S FATHER AIRS FEARS OVER RISE IN DISSIDENT REPUBLICAN ACTIVITY
Bomb victim's father airs fears over rise in dissident republican activity
by Jonathan Rainey
Campaigner sends stark warning to Secretary of State
THE father of one of the victims of the Omagh bomb has written to the Secretary of State, Peter Hain, expressing his fears about the recent rise in dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland.
Mr Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aiden (21) in the August 1998 blast, sent his bleak warning to Mr Hain, in the wake of a series of incidents linked to the Real IRA (RIRA) across the province during the summer.
In the strongly-worded letter, the campaigner also claimed that both the British and Irish governments had 'failed' the families of the Omagh victims by not bringing to justice those responsible for the atrocity, which claimed the lives of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
Writing on behalf of the Omagh Victims' Group, Mr Gallagher made reference to the recent fire bombings in Newry and Dungannon, which caused millions of pounds worth of damage, and the disruption to the Belfast to Dublin rail service caused by a series of bomb alerts.
He also raised his concerns after a meeting to forge an alliance of dissident republican activists which was to have been held in Toomebridge last week was cancelled at the last minute - allegedly after the Provisional IRA stepped in. In a scathing assessment of the response of both the British and Irish governments to the dissident republican threat in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb, Mr Gallagher added:"Sadly both governments failed the families after the Omagh bomb by not bringing to justice those responsible and putting this terrorist group out of business."
Explaining the reasons for sending the letter to the Secretary of State, Mr Gallagher said: "There has been a degree of co-ordination and expertise that allowed these attacks to happen. If that's not checked these people will go on to be even more effective and it seems there's nobody that is capable of disrupting these activities. "
In a stark warning for Peter Hain, he added: "We are heading towards a situation where they are becoming as proficient as the Provisional IRA were at their height. If they are allowed to continue, it's only a matter of time until we have more town centre car bombs."
The Northern Ireland Office has confirmed Mr Gallagher's letter had been received.
An NIO spokesperson said: "The Secretary of State will respond in due course. Both governments and law enforcement agencies are committed to tackling terrorism."
by Jonathan Rainey
Campaigner sends stark warning to Secretary of State
THE father of one of the victims of the Omagh bomb has written to the Secretary of State, Peter Hain, expressing his fears about the recent rise in dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland.
Mr Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aiden (21) in the August 1998 blast, sent his bleak warning to Mr Hain, in the wake of a series of incidents linked to the Real IRA (RIRA) across the province during the summer.
In the strongly-worded letter, the campaigner also claimed that both the British and Irish governments had 'failed' the families of the Omagh victims by not bringing to justice those responsible for the atrocity, which claimed the lives of 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins.
Writing on behalf of the Omagh Victims' Group, Mr Gallagher made reference to the recent fire bombings in Newry and Dungannon, which caused millions of pounds worth of damage, and the disruption to the Belfast to Dublin rail service caused by a series of bomb alerts.
He also raised his concerns after a meeting to forge an alliance of dissident republican activists which was to have been held in Toomebridge last week was cancelled at the last minute - allegedly after the Provisional IRA stepped in. In a scathing assessment of the response of both the British and Irish governments to the dissident republican threat in the aftermath of the Omagh bomb, Mr Gallagher added:"Sadly both governments failed the families after the Omagh bomb by not bringing to justice those responsible and putting this terrorist group out of business."
Explaining the reasons for sending the letter to the Secretary of State, Mr Gallagher said: "There has been a degree of co-ordination and expertise that allowed these attacks to happen. If that's not checked these people will go on to be even more effective and it seems there's nobody that is capable of disrupting these activities. "
In a stark warning for Peter Hain, he added: "We are heading towards a situation where they are becoming as proficient as the Provisional IRA were at their height. If they are allowed to continue, it's only a matter of time until we have more town centre car bombs."
The Northern Ireland Office has confirmed Mr Gallagher's letter had been received.
An NIO spokesperson said: "The Secretary of State will respond in due course. Both governments and law enforcement agencies are committed to tackling terrorism."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1845
Published Date: 07-Sep-06
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