AHERN PLEDGES ACTION AGAINST BOMBERS
Ahern pledges action against bombers
by Jim Morahan
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday pledged the Government would do whatever was necessary to defeat the Omagh bombers.
It would take several days for Ministers and advisers on both sides of the border to agree new security measures in the aftermath of the bombing, Mr Ahern told journalists.
Mr Ahern was speaking after he had signed the book of condolences opened in Dublin by Lord Mayor Joe Doyle in the Mansion House. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister David Andrews.
"I think we have to take the best advice of the security people on how we end this. Omagh has to be the last event. And whatever is necessary to end this, this is what we are determined to do," said Mr Ahern.
Every single measure the gardai and RUC could think of was being used. "But there may be new ones that are required."
It had been pointed out to him by the gardai and RUC that after 30 consecutive years of violence of the most intense nature, the legislation in the Republic was probably the most repressive there was.
"In terms of finding new things, that is not too easy. But I still hold the view that there might be new things, new requirements, changes in tactics," he said. Questioned why the people known to be behind the bombing were not in custody, the Taoiseach said the people could take it that those named and suspected had been long under the most active surveillance. They were "unlikely to be the people that we are chasing alone and we are going to continue to hunt these down in whatever way we can."
When asked if internment was an option, Mr Ahern said all of these things were being looked at. "We have to find an effective mechanism on how we can deal with a small number of ruthless people.
"These groups who have not yet called a ceasefire and who are still engaged in any form - not necessarily the people who were involved on Saturday - should declare their position and they should do that quickly.
"There is no room left in society, North and South, for people to engage in this. It is our obligation to the people who have died and to the relatives and to the whole peace process to make sure we can crush this effectively."
Asked about the peace process, the Taoiseach said he would be meeting the Northern First Minister David Trimble later this week he would be in touch with all the other party leaders in advance of the new Assembly meeting in September.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
by Jim Morahan
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday pledged the Government would do whatever was necessary to defeat the Omagh bombers.
It would take several days for Ministers and advisers on both sides of the border to agree new security measures in the aftermath of the bombing, Mr Ahern told journalists.
Mr Ahern was speaking after he had signed the book of condolences opened in Dublin by Lord Mayor Joe Doyle in the Mansion House. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister David Andrews.
"I think we have to take the best advice of the security people on how we end this. Omagh has to be the last event. And whatever is necessary to end this, this is what we are determined to do," said Mr Ahern.
Every single measure the gardai and RUC could think of was being used. "But there may be new ones that are required."
It had been pointed out to him by the gardai and RUC that after 30 consecutive years of violence of the most intense nature, the legislation in the Republic was probably the most repressive there was.
"In terms of finding new things, that is not too easy. But I still hold the view that there might be new things, new requirements, changes in tactics," he said. Questioned why the people known to be behind the bombing were not in custody, the Taoiseach said the people could take it that those named and suspected had been long under the most active surveillance. They were "unlikely to be the people that we are chasing alone and we are going to continue to hunt these down in whatever way we can."
When asked if internment was an option, Mr Ahern said all of these things were being looked at. "We have to find an effective mechanism on how we can deal with a small number of ruthless people.
"These groups who have not yet called a ceasefire and who are still engaged in any form - not necessarily the people who were involved on Saturday - should declare their position and they should do that quickly.
"There is no room left in society, North and South, for people to engage in this. It is our obligation to the people who have died and to the relatives and to the whole peace process to make sure we can crush this effectively."
Asked about the peace process, the Taoiseach said he would be meeting the Northern First Minister David Trimble later this week he would be in touch with all the other party leaders in advance of the new Assembly meeting in September.
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
Further Information
Publisher: THE EXAMINER
Ref: TEX/067
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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