FAMILIES PRAISED ON TENACITY AND DETERMINATION
Families praised on tenacity and determination
POLITICAL representatives have voiced their support for the Omagh families, following their success this week in an eight-year landmark civil prosecution to sue those responsible for the Omagh bomb of 1998.
Offering his good wishes to the families on their "persistence in the pursuit of justice", Mid Tyrone member of Omagh District Council, Bert Wilson, said: "Over the years these families have had to deal with a lot of pain and suffering, but they were very determined to get that closure that they needed and wanted.
"I am really delighted that the outcome has been such a positive one for them - at least it is some form of justice, but I still feel that relatives shouldn't have had to go through all this to get the justice deserved.
"It doesn't look very good for the authorities when this is the lengths that families have had to go to - we would expect the authorities to carry this out - not the grieving families."
Also welcoming Monday's judgment at the High Court, Castlederg-based member of Strabane District Council, Derek Hussey, said he hoped the families would now be able to find some degree of closure.
"Having been failed by the criminal justice system, we can only hope that the ruling by Mr Justice Morgan will bring some small comfort to those whose lives were shattered by the Real IRA attack over 10 years ago. On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, may I reiterate my deepest sympathy to those who have suffered, and who suffer to this day.
"As we approach the 11th anniversary of the car bomb which murdered innocent men, women and children on the streets of Tyrone's county town, it is all too clear that the pain and suffering endured by many of those caught up in the Omagh bombing was intensified by the fact that no-one - until now - had been held accountable.
"This landmark case is testament to those who have long fought for justice for their loved ones. Though it can do nothing to ease their loss, it has meant that those who evaded criminal conviction have at last been held responsible for the murder of 29 people and unborn twins.
"Most importantly, we hope this will allow the bereaved families some degree of closure after a decade of heartache."
Following Monday's judgment in Belfast, West Tyrone MLA, Tom Buchanan, urged authorities to take criminal proceedings against those the four men found to be responsible for the car bomb attack "to ensure that they are prosecuted and brought to bear for the murder of the 31 innocent victims in Omagh.
"I commend the tenacity and the focus of the families of the victims for taking this case in the first place," said Mr Buchanan. "It is clear that because of their strength and determination in pursuing this civil action they wanted to ensure that justice was done for their families.
"We must never forget that those who were found guilty in this civil action were the ones who prepared, transported and detonated the bomb. Despite the efforts of the press and, in particular, the BBC to lay the blame for the bombing at the door of the RUC/PSNI over its handling of the bomb investigation, it must be never forgotten who actually killed the 29 people and two unborn children in Omagh on August 15, 1998.
"After Monday's ruling it is clear that these people who were named in Mr Justice Morgan's decision were the very people who sat down and planned to kill people in Omagh."
Echoing these sentiments, Alex Attwood, SDLP MLA, said that while he welcomed the civil judgment, he stressed the importance that "it needs to be followed up."
He said: "This judgment is a vindication of the campaign of the Omagh families. The decision of Sir Declan Morgan makes it very clear that individuals and a group were responsible for the Omagh mass murder.
"This is not a criminal conviction and those responsible will not serve even one day in prison for this offence, however, the judgment is a level of justice that has so far been denied to the Omagh families.
"It remains the case that there are enduring unanswered questions around the Omagh bomb. That requires an independent all-Ireland judicial inquiry. It also requires that the British government acknowledges that the Gibson Report on the John Ware Panorama programme is deeply flawed and full of holes.
"For the Omagh families to get the full respect that they deserve, both these matters must be addressed."
Meanwhile, Omagh town councillor, Ross Hussey, said that although he welcomed the positive outcome of the judgment, he was aware "no money will ever repay the Omagh families or the town of Omagh for the loss that was suffered on that day.
"It is a sad reflection on justice and the justice system that those that plotted death to Omagh on the August 15, 1998, have not seen the inside of a prison cell and are not incarcerated for the rest of their miserable existence.
"Michael Gallagher was right when he said that this landmark ruling would ensure that terrorists wherever they are cannot expect to be able to hide 'the families of the victims will come after you' - may these words haunt the murderous cowards who came to Omagh."
POLITICAL representatives have voiced their support for the Omagh families, following their success this week in an eight-year landmark civil prosecution to sue those responsible for the Omagh bomb of 1998.
Offering his good wishes to the families on their "persistence in the pursuit of justice", Mid Tyrone member of Omagh District Council, Bert Wilson, said: "Over the years these families have had to deal with a lot of pain and suffering, but they were very determined to get that closure that they needed and wanted.
"I am really delighted that the outcome has been such a positive one for them - at least it is some form of justice, but I still feel that relatives shouldn't have had to go through all this to get the justice deserved.
"It doesn't look very good for the authorities when this is the lengths that families have had to go to - we would expect the authorities to carry this out - not the grieving families."
Also welcoming Monday's judgment at the High Court, Castlederg-based member of Strabane District Council, Derek Hussey, said he hoped the families would now be able to find some degree of closure.
"Having been failed by the criminal justice system, we can only hope that the ruling by Mr Justice Morgan will bring some small comfort to those whose lives were shattered by the Real IRA attack over 10 years ago. On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, may I reiterate my deepest sympathy to those who have suffered, and who suffer to this day.
"As we approach the 11th anniversary of the car bomb which murdered innocent men, women and children on the streets of Tyrone's county town, it is all too clear that the pain and suffering endured by many of those caught up in the Omagh bombing was intensified by the fact that no-one - until now - had been held accountable.
"This landmark case is testament to those who have long fought for justice for their loved ones. Though it can do nothing to ease their loss, it has meant that those who evaded criminal conviction have at last been held responsible for the murder of 29 people and unborn twins.
"Most importantly, we hope this will allow the bereaved families some degree of closure after a decade of heartache."
Following Monday's judgment in Belfast, West Tyrone MLA, Tom Buchanan, urged authorities to take criminal proceedings against those the four men found to be responsible for the car bomb attack "to ensure that they are prosecuted and brought to bear for the murder of the 31 innocent victims in Omagh.
"I commend the tenacity and the focus of the families of the victims for taking this case in the first place," said Mr Buchanan. "It is clear that because of their strength and determination in pursuing this civil action they wanted to ensure that justice was done for their families.
"We must never forget that those who were found guilty in this civil action were the ones who prepared, transported and detonated the bomb. Despite the efforts of the press and, in particular, the BBC to lay the blame for the bombing at the door of the RUC/PSNI over its handling of the bomb investigation, it must be never forgotten who actually killed the 29 people and two unborn children in Omagh on August 15, 1998.
"After Monday's ruling it is clear that these people who were named in Mr Justice Morgan's decision were the very people who sat down and planned to kill people in Omagh."
Echoing these sentiments, Alex Attwood, SDLP MLA, said that while he welcomed the civil judgment, he stressed the importance that "it needs to be followed up."
He said: "This judgment is a vindication of the campaign of the Omagh families. The decision of Sir Declan Morgan makes it very clear that individuals and a group were responsible for the Omagh mass murder.
"This is not a criminal conviction and those responsible will not serve even one day in prison for this offence, however, the judgment is a level of justice that has so far been denied to the Omagh families.
"It remains the case that there are enduring unanswered questions around the Omagh bomb. That requires an independent all-Ireland judicial inquiry. It also requires that the British government acknowledges that the Gibson Report on the John Ware Panorama programme is deeply flawed and full of holes.
"For the Omagh families to get the full respect that they deserve, both these matters must be addressed."
Meanwhile, Omagh town councillor, Ross Hussey, said that although he welcomed the positive outcome of the judgment, he was aware "no money will ever repay the Omagh families or the town of Omagh for the loss that was suffered on that day.
"It is a sad reflection on justice and the justice system that those that plotted death to Omagh on the August 15, 1998, have not seen the inside of a prison cell and are not incarcerated for the rest of their miserable existence.
"Michael Gallagher was right when he said that this landmark ruling would ensure that terrorists wherever they are cannot expect to be able to hide 'the families of the victims will come after you' - may these words haunt the murderous cowards who came to Omagh."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1981
Published Date: 11-Jun-09
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