MANDELSON TELLS OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AT OMAGH BOMB BOOK LAUNCH
Mandelson tells of personal experience Omagh bomb book launch
FORMER Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, has spoken this week of how the events of the 1998 Omagh bombing changed the way in which he carried out his job.
Lord Mandelson made his comments during the launch of a book detailing the August 15, 1998 bombing and of the families' fight for justice in the aftermath of the atrocity, which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
Entitled 'Aftermath: The Omagh Bombing and the Families' Pursuit of Justice', the book was written by journalist and broadcaster, Ruth Dudley Edwards, and tells the story of the bombing, how the families coped with their loss, chronicling their civil case which culminated last month when a judge ruled that Real IRA leader, Michael McKevitt, and three others were responsible for the bomb.
Stating that the explosion had given him 'huge energy' to his job, Lord Mandelson, who helped the families raise funds for the multi-million pound civil case, said: "In a very deep way and in a very personal way, it (the bomb) changed how I approached my job," he said.
"But it also clarified what I was doing and why I was doing it and where I and, all those who I worked with, needed to end up with the people of Northern Ireland."
Ms Dudley Edwards, who has been working on the book since 2003, said it was the most difficult piece she had ever written.
Victor Barker, who lost his son, James, said it was important for other people to read about the suffering caused by terrorism.
"I hope that it will lead to these people being exiled in their own communities and completely rejected by all the communities in Northern Ireland," he said.
"There is always the hope of a criminal prosecution one day. The families are determined to make sure that their cause and their fight goes on as long as it possibly can".
FORMER Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Mandelson, has spoken this week of how the events of the 1998 Omagh bombing changed the way in which he carried out his job.
Lord Mandelson made his comments during the launch of a book detailing the August 15, 1998 bombing and of the families' fight for justice in the aftermath of the atrocity, which killed 29 people and unborn twins.
Entitled 'Aftermath: The Omagh Bombing and the Families' Pursuit of Justice', the book was written by journalist and broadcaster, Ruth Dudley Edwards, and tells the story of the bombing, how the families coped with their loss, chronicling their civil case which culminated last month when a judge ruled that Real IRA leader, Michael McKevitt, and three others were responsible for the bomb.
Stating that the explosion had given him 'huge energy' to his job, Lord Mandelson, who helped the families raise funds for the multi-million pound civil case, said: "In a very deep way and in a very personal way, it (the bomb) changed how I approached my job," he said.
"But it also clarified what I was doing and why I was doing it and where I and, all those who I worked with, needed to end up with the people of Northern Ireland."
Ms Dudley Edwards, who has been working on the book since 2003, said it was the most difficult piece she had ever written.
Victor Barker, who lost his son, James, said it was important for other people to read about the suffering caused by terrorism.
"I hope that it will lead to these people being exiled in their own communities and completely rejected by all the communities in Northern Ireland," he said.
"There is always the hope of a criminal prosecution one day. The families are determined to make sure that their cause and their fight goes on as long as it possibly can".
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1984
Published Date: 02-Jul-09
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.