OMAGH FAMILIES STEP UP PUBLIC INQUIRY CALLS FOLLOWING SECURITY KILLINGS
Omagh families step up public inquiry calls following security killings
by Peter Kelly in Stormont and Madrid
Members of the Omagh bomb victims' group are stepping up their efforts for a public inquiry into the 1998 atrocity in the wake of the recent security force killings.
Spurred on by their high profile involvement at the European Terrorism Victims Network conference in Madrid last week, they also engaged with the Westminster Northern Ireland Select Committee who visited Stormont last Monday.
Delegations from the group were among those who spoke of their continued disillusionment with the British and Irish governments' handling of the bomb investigation and victim care.
Victims group chairman, Michael Gallagher, told hushed Westminster MPs that "recent dissidents' victims have paid the price for the failure to properly deal with or investigate the Omagh atrocity".
Clearly taken aback, they described his testimony and that of group colleague Godfrey Wilson as "impressive and powerful" as they retired to consider backing the Omagh group's call for the public inquiry.
Meanwhile, European terrorism victims' groups have expressed "enormous solidarity and similar dismay" with Northern Ireland counterparts who joined them in Spain for the European conference on victims rights.
Delegations from Warrington, London, Spain, France and Israel spoke in support of the Omagh victims' call for "an increase in victims' place on the national agenda in each of our countries".
NI Victims Commissioner Mike Nesbitt represented the First and Deputy First Ministers at the event and appeared to controversially break alliance with Stormont colleagues to back the Northern Ireland delegation.
"After the horrific events of last week, it was timely and telling to hear first hand how victims from Northern Ireland feel so badly let down by their governments and state agencies," he said.
Meanwhile, the �2million landmark civil lawsuit is concluding this week at Belfast's High Court against the five suspects involved in the 1998 blast. London lawyers H2O are due to make final summing up statements on Friday.
by Peter Kelly in Stormont and Madrid
Members of the Omagh bomb victims' group are stepping up their efforts for a public inquiry into the 1998 atrocity in the wake of the recent security force killings.
Spurred on by their high profile involvement at the European Terrorism Victims Network conference in Madrid last week, they also engaged with the Westminster Northern Ireland Select Committee who visited Stormont last Monday.
Delegations from the group were among those who spoke of their continued disillusionment with the British and Irish governments' handling of the bomb investigation and victim care.
Victims group chairman, Michael Gallagher, told hushed Westminster MPs that "recent dissidents' victims have paid the price for the failure to properly deal with or investigate the Omagh atrocity".
Clearly taken aback, they described his testimony and that of group colleague Godfrey Wilson as "impressive and powerful" as they retired to consider backing the Omagh group's call for the public inquiry.
Meanwhile, European terrorism victims' groups have expressed "enormous solidarity and similar dismay" with Northern Ireland counterparts who joined them in Spain for the European conference on victims rights.
Delegations from Warrington, London, Spain, France and Israel spoke in support of the Omagh victims' call for "an increase in victims' place on the national agenda in each of our countries".
NI Victims Commissioner Mike Nesbitt represented the First and Deputy First Ministers at the event and appeared to controversially break alliance with Stormont colleagues to back the Northern Ireland delegation.
"After the horrific events of last week, it was timely and telling to hear first hand how victims from Northern Ireland feel so badly let down by their governments and state agencies," he said.
Meanwhile, the �2million landmark civil lawsuit is concluding this week at Belfast's High Court against the five suspects involved in the 1998 blast. London lawyers H2O are due to make final summing up statements on Friday.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1976
Published Date: 19-Mar-09
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