OMAGH RELATIVES CAMPAIGN BEING TAKEN TO EYRO PARLIAMENT IN BRUSSELS
Omagh relatives campaign being taken to Euro Parliament in Brussels
by Karen Mullan
Relatives of Omagh bomb victims have been left 'disappointed' after the Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, failed to offer his full commitment to their fight to secure an independent cross-border public inquiry into the August 15,1998, atrocity.
Relatives and members of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, along with political representatives, met with Mr Paterson at Stormont buildings in Belfast, on Wednesday of last week, during a two-and-a-half hour discussion on the matter.
The delegation had hoped to gain commitment from the Secretary of State that he would support their campaign. However, speaking after the meeting, one of the relatives said that instead they were left feeling 'let down'.
Expressing his disappointment over the 'fraught' and at times 'heated' discussions, the chairman of Omagh Self Help and Support Group, Michael Gallagher, who lost his son, Aidan, in the bombing, said: "We made a presentation to the Secretary of State, who was accompanied by the Minister for State, in support for a full cross-border inquiry.
"However, he said he would like to wait on it and that he wasn't going to make a decision on the day as he has a number of people to talk to, including the Irish government. He wanted to see what the Hamill and Nelson inquiries would bring first. He expressed his disappointment that the Billy Wright Inquiry was not well received and said that while the government was against long open-ended, expensive inquiries, they would, however, be based on their own merit.
"At times the meeting was quite frank and I am very disappointed that we are going to be based on two other inquiries. The Robert Hamill Inquiry is due back in December and the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry won't be until January, so we have been left in limbo until January of next year."
Vowing to press forward with their campaign, Mr Gallagher added: "We have been here before, we always seem to be put on the long finger, but we will continue to bring forward our campaign. I will be addressing members of the European Parliament in Brussels, including the European Union for Terrorism, in early November. We are also trying to contact the Spanish government at the minute and we're hoping to speak with the Irish government within the next few weeks."
by Karen Mullan
Relatives of Omagh bomb victims have been left 'disappointed' after the Secretary of State, Owen Paterson, failed to offer his full commitment to their fight to secure an independent cross-border public inquiry into the August 15,1998, atrocity.
Relatives and members of the Omagh Self Help and Support Group, along with political representatives, met with Mr Paterson at Stormont buildings in Belfast, on Wednesday of last week, during a two-and-a-half hour discussion on the matter.
The delegation had hoped to gain commitment from the Secretary of State that he would support their campaign. However, speaking after the meeting, one of the relatives said that instead they were left feeling 'let down'.
Expressing his disappointment over the 'fraught' and at times 'heated' discussions, the chairman of Omagh Self Help and Support Group, Michael Gallagher, who lost his son, Aidan, in the bombing, said: "We made a presentation to the Secretary of State, who was accompanied by the Minister for State, in support for a full cross-border inquiry.
"However, he said he would like to wait on it and that he wasn't going to make a decision on the day as he has a number of people to talk to, including the Irish government. He wanted to see what the Hamill and Nelson inquiries would bring first. He expressed his disappointment that the Billy Wright Inquiry was not well received and said that while the government was against long open-ended, expensive inquiries, they would, however, be based on their own merit.
"At times the meeting was quite frank and I am very disappointed that we are going to be based on two other inquiries. The Robert Hamill Inquiry is due back in December and the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry won't be until January, so we have been left in limbo until January of next year."
Vowing to press forward with their campaign, Mr Gallagher added: "We have been here before, we always seem to be put on the long finger, but we will continue to bring forward our campaign. I will be addressing members of the European Parliament in Brussels, including the European Union for Terrorism, in early November. We are also trying to contact the Spanish government at the minute and we're hoping to speak with the Irish government within the next few weeks."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/2003
Published Date: 30-Sep-10
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