PARTNER OF MCKEVITT CONDEMS MASS MURDER BY REAL IRA
Partner of McKevitt goes live on radio to condemn mass murder by Real IRA
THE partner of Michael McKevitt, the man reputed to lead the Real IRA hardline terrorist group, went live on radio, yesterday, to condemn the bomb attack on Omagh. Bernadette Sands-McKevitt also welcomed the Real IRA's suspension of military operations.
Ms Sands-McKevitt, who together with Michael McKevitt, has reportedly moved out of their home in Dundalk because of fears for the safety of their family, said she had not previously heard of the overnight development.
She made the comments on Live-line, a daily phone-in and interview programme on RTE.
Ms Sands-McKevitt, a sister of IRA man Bobby Sands who died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison in 1981, said she did not know why she, Michael McKevitt and Francis Mackey, a councillor in Omagh, were being singled out in the wake of the bombing.
She said of last Saturday's incident that left 28 people dead and more than 200 injured: "It is condemned. We will not condone it. The loss of innocent lives cannot be justified." She said she was sure the people behind the bombing would be brought to justice.
Ms Sands-McKevitt is vice-chairperson of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, allegedly the political wing of the Real IRA.
She said: "I don't agree with violence such as we have witnessed. I would prefer we see this done by peaceful means, because that is the only way forward. "As a committee, that is what we are trying to do. "What I am saying is that there are always people who have been engaged in violence. "If we don't address the problem (of Northern Ireland) how are we going to solve it. The (Northern Ireland) agreement fell short of addressing the problem."
She said she would ask people who had violence in their minds "to support us on this peaceful route."
Of the Real IRA ceasefire move, she said: "I welcome that, and all of our committee would welcome it, too - as we welcomed the Provisional IRA ceasefire." She hoped it would be permanent and that everybody would address the Northern Ireland problem "through peaceful means" in order to solve it. The radio interview followed claims made by Michael McKevitt to Father Desmond Campbell, of Black-rock, Co Louth, that he had "no hand, act or part" in the Omagh bombing.
Fr Campbell said he believed the McKevitts called him because of a reference he made at Mass in his church to the chief suspect for the bombing being widely thought to be from the parish.
"It was a despairing thing when they rang me. She broke down and cried and said: We are terribly upset about what is taking place. It is my children. I am frightened out of my life that they will do something to my three children. They are supposed to be converging here on the home and I am worried sick."
Residents of Dundalk are to stage a rally on Saturday to dissociate themselves from all links between the town and terrorist violence.
Solicitor John Woods said: "This is a town that has suffered greatly. We will not have it that people will portray the image of Dundalk as a politically violent town - the El Paso image."
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
THE partner of Michael McKevitt, the man reputed to lead the Real IRA hardline terrorist group, went live on radio, yesterday, to condemn the bomb attack on Omagh. Bernadette Sands-McKevitt also welcomed the Real IRA's suspension of military operations.
Ms Sands-McKevitt, who together with Michael McKevitt, has reportedly moved out of their home in Dundalk because of fears for the safety of their family, said she had not previously heard of the overnight development.
She made the comments on Live-line, a daily phone-in and interview programme on RTE.
Ms Sands-McKevitt, a sister of IRA man Bobby Sands who died on hunger strike in the Maze Prison in 1981, said she did not know why she, Michael McKevitt and Francis Mackey, a councillor in Omagh, were being singled out in the wake of the bombing.
She said of last Saturday's incident that left 28 people dead and more than 200 injured: "It is condemned. We will not condone it. The loss of innocent lives cannot be justified." She said she was sure the people behind the bombing would be brought to justice.
Ms Sands-McKevitt is vice-chairperson of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, allegedly the political wing of the Real IRA.
She said: "I don't agree with violence such as we have witnessed. I would prefer we see this done by peaceful means, because that is the only way forward. "As a committee, that is what we are trying to do. "What I am saying is that there are always people who have been engaged in violence. "If we don't address the problem (of Northern Ireland) how are we going to solve it. The (Northern Ireland) agreement fell short of addressing the problem."
She said she would ask people who had violence in their minds "to support us on this peaceful route."
Of the Real IRA ceasefire move, she said: "I welcome that, and all of our committee would welcome it, too - as we welcomed the Provisional IRA ceasefire." She hoped it would be permanent and that everybody would address the Northern Ireland problem "through peaceful means" in order to solve it. The radio interview followed claims made by Michael McKevitt to Father Desmond Campbell, of Black-rock, Co Louth, that he had "no hand, act or part" in the Omagh bombing.
Fr Campbell said he believed the McKevitts called him because of a reference he made at Mass in his church to the chief suspect for the bombing being widely thought to be from the parish.
"It was a despairing thing when they rang me. She broke down and cried and said: We are terribly upset about what is taking place. It is my children. I am frightened out of my life that they will do something to my three children. They are supposed to be converging here on the home and I am worried sick."
Residents of Dundalk are to stage a rally on Saturday to dissociate themselves from all links between the town and terrorist violence.
Solicitor John Woods said: "This is a town that has suffered greatly. We will not have it that people will portray the image of Dundalk as a politically violent town - the El Paso image."
Courtesy of Irish Examiner
Further Information
Publisher: THE EXAMINER
Ref: TEX/101
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
Related Images
