CLERGY URGED TO BACK OMAGH INQUIRY AFTER CALLS FOR BOMBERS TO COME FORWARD
Clergy urged to back Omagh inquiry after calls for bombers to come forward
by Stephen McKiernan
THE clergy have been urged to fully endorse a prospective full, cross-border, public inquiry into the Omagh bombing.
The call comes after Catholic Primate of Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, urged the Omagh bombers to come forward in this life before they were judged in the next.
However, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, Michael Gallagher, said the perpetrators are devoid of human, religious or moral conscience.
Dr Brady made the statement during an address at the Humbert Summer School in Ballina, Co Mayo, last weekend, where he also praised the Orange Order's "efforts to promote dialogue" and condemned attacks on Orange halls.
"Before the innocent children, women and men you massacred, I appeal for you to do the right thing before God," said Dr Brady.
"I appeal to your hearts and human dignity. Give yourselves up to justice in this world before you face judgment in the next."
Dr Brady also appealed for those people with-holding evidence to bring it to the police.
"You also have a duty before God. The families of those killed and the surviving victims have suffered enough. Help them to receive justice. If you have any humanity left in your heart at all, do all that you can to ease at least a little of their pain.
During his address, Dr Brady called the peace process in Northern Ireland a "remarkable achievement" and one which is strengthening.
"I believe that it continues to be a robust and secure process. My confidence in it is strengthened by growing signs of maturity around formerly intractable issues such as parades.
"Efforts to deal with the past are also important and may give deeper roots to the stability we now enjoy.
"The sensitivities around the commemorations of the 10th anniversary of the Omagh bombing, however, remind us just how difficult a task this will be."
Mr Gallagher, who lost his son, Aiden, in the Omagh bombing, in responding to Dr Brady's call, said the efforts of those seeking the bombers to come forward, would be better suited putting weight behind a full, cross-border, public inquiry.
"Of course we would like to go down the normal route of justice, but in that respect we are limited," said Mr Gallagher.
"I would prefer that people like Dr Brady would support the families call for a full, cross-border inquiry because if these people haven't come forward in the past 10 years, then it's highly unlikely they will come forth at this stage.
"People in the religious community, generally, judge people according to their own standards, but the bombers have no standards. They will continue to try to justify their actions, as they have done for the past 40 years, but they used our loved ones to make their protest.
"What I've come to learn is to support the sanctity of human life, unfortunately they (bombers) don't look at it this way. They have already tried to murder numerous policemen this year. They are murderers and unfortunately I don't see them changing their attitude towards their actions at this stage."
In his address, Dr Brady also heavily condemned attacks on Orange halls, a crime which has been felt in the Omagh district recently, with an attack at an Orange Hall near Mountfield almost three weeks ago.
"Attacks on Orange halls, deserve to be unequivocally condemned," said Dr Brady.
"They are symptomatic of a sectarian pathology which is evil and has to be continually challenged in ourselves and every aspect of social, religious and political life," he added.
The Orange Order in Omagh welcomed the comments made by Dr Brady.
Omagh District Master, Andrew Scott, said it was a step in the right direction to have the highest ranking member of the Catholic church in Ireland denouncing attacks on halls.
"Certainly, within the Orange family, we would welcome this because as he (Dr Brady) said we have been making every effort to reach out to all the community.
"Attacks on Orange halls are attacks on the whole community because they are being used by the whole community.
"There are many Roman Catholics who don't condone attacks in their locality but have to keep their thoughts to themselves for their own safety. This example by the head of the Catholic church is a good start and one which should be followed," he said.
by Stephen McKiernan
THE clergy have been urged to fully endorse a prospective full, cross-border, public inquiry into the Omagh bombing.
The call comes after Catholic Primate of Ireland, Cardinal Sean Brady, urged the Omagh bombers to come forward in this life before they were judged in the next.
However, chairman of the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, Michael Gallagher, said the perpetrators are devoid of human, religious or moral conscience.
Dr Brady made the statement during an address at the Humbert Summer School in Ballina, Co Mayo, last weekend, where he also praised the Orange Order's "efforts to promote dialogue" and condemned attacks on Orange halls.
"Before the innocent children, women and men you massacred, I appeal for you to do the right thing before God," said Dr Brady.
"I appeal to your hearts and human dignity. Give yourselves up to justice in this world before you face judgment in the next."
Dr Brady also appealed for those people with-holding evidence to bring it to the police.
"You also have a duty before God. The families of those killed and the surviving victims have suffered enough. Help them to receive justice. If you have any humanity left in your heart at all, do all that you can to ease at least a little of their pain.
During his address, Dr Brady called the peace process in Northern Ireland a "remarkable achievement" and one which is strengthening.
"I believe that it continues to be a robust and secure process. My confidence in it is strengthened by growing signs of maturity around formerly intractable issues such as parades.
"Efforts to deal with the past are also important and may give deeper roots to the stability we now enjoy.
"The sensitivities around the commemorations of the 10th anniversary of the Omagh bombing, however, remind us just how difficult a task this will be."
Mr Gallagher, who lost his son, Aiden, in the Omagh bombing, in responding to Dr Brady's call, said the efforts of those seeking the bombers to come forward, would be better suited putting weight behind a full, cross-border, public inquiry.
"Of course we would like to go down the normal route of justice, but in that respect we are limited," said Mr Gallagher.
"I would prefer that people like Dr Brady would support the families call for a full, cross-border inquiry because if these people haven't come forward in the past 10 years, then it's highly unlikely they will come forth at this stage.
"People in the religious community, generally, judge people according to their own standards, but the bombers have no standards. They will continue to try to justify their actions, as they have done for the past 40 years, but they used our loved ones to make their protest.
"What I've come to learn is to support the sanctity of human life, unfortunately they (bombers) don't look at it this way. They have already tried to murder numerous policemen this year. They are murderers and unfortunately I don't see them changing their attitude towards their actions at this stage."
In his address, Dr Brady also heavily condemned attacks on Orange halls, a crime which has been felt in the Omagh district recently, with an attack at an Orange Hall near Mountfield almost three weeks ago.
"Attacks on Orange halls, deserve to be unequivocally condemned," said Dr Brady.
"They are symptomatic of a sectarian pathology which is evil and has to be continually challenged in ourselves and every aspect of social, religious and political life," he added.
The Orange Order in Omagh welcomed the comments made by Dr Brady.
Omagh District Master, Andrew Scott, said it was a step in the right direction to have the highest ranking member of the Catholic church in Ireland denouncing attacks on halls.
"Certainly, within the Orange family, we would welcome this because as he (Dr Brady) said we have been making every effort to reach out to all the community.
"Attacks on Orange halls are attacks on the whole community because they are being used by the whole community.
"There are many Roman Catholics who don't condone attacks in their locality but have to keep their thoughts to themselves for their own safety. This example by the head of the Catholic church is a good start and one which should be followed," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1959
Published Date: 28-Aug-08
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