TEX/068

QUINN SAYS THE PERPETRATORS MUST BE NAMED

Quinn says the perpetrators must be named
by Mary Dundon

JUSTICE Minister John O'Donoghue and gardai must publicly name the men responsible for the atrocious Omagh bombing that claimed 28 lives, Labour leader Ruairi Quinn said last night. Senior security sources must know by now who was behind the murders and should expose them publicly - without fear of being sued, Mr Quinn said.
Justice Minister John O'Donoghue could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press. And a Garda Press office spokesman said they would make no comment on Mr Quinn's call at the moment.
"The anonymity of those responsible for the bombing should be exposed and I think the Minister for Justice and gardai should come straight out and name them," Mr Quinn added.
The press are constrained, legally, here from naming the main suspect behind the bombing, but he could be named by politicians within the Dail under the privilege rules of the Oireachtas.
Mr Quinn said once he had received a full briefing from the Government on the.bombings, he may consider naming those behind the murders - within the Dail - if he is satisfied they are the perpetrators.
While no one has claimed responsibility for the bombing, security chiefs on both sides of the border believe the dissident breakaway Real IRA group were behind it. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam and Justice Minister John O'Donoghue held a three hour emergency meeting in Belfast yesterday.
After the meeting, the Justice Minister said no option had been ruled out in dealing with the perpetrators of this crime. And when pressed if this would include internment, the Minister said it will most likely include working within the present Criminal Justice Act.
"I would favour a change in the law that would make it easier to convict these men; no option has been ruled out to take them off the streets," he said.
Northern Secretary Mo Mowlan pledged everything will be done to catch the killers. And, while she was personally against internment, she said she would favour legislative changes that would make it easier to gather evidence to deal with these terrorists.
She said the Chief Constable, Ronnie Flanagan and Garda Commissioner Pat Flynn will bring forward proposals to tackle this crisis and it was the resolve of both governments to implement whatever measures are necessary.

Courtesy of Irish Examiner

Further Information

Publisher: THE EXAMINER

Ref: TEX/068

Published Date: 18-Aug-98

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