BOMBERS UNDER 24-HOUR WATCH
Bombers under 24-hour watch
By NICOLA TALLANT
TEN suspect bombers, including one woman, have been placed under tight 24-hour surveillance in the Republic of Ireland.
Gardai believe the group - all from Dundalk - plotted the Omagh bombing which left 28 dead.
The 10 are all members of the Real IRA - a tear-away terrorist group who security forces say bombed the Co Tyrone town.
The houses of the suspects have been put under round-the-clock watch and undercover detectives have been trailing their targets.
Last night, a senior Garda source revealed how the group are the chief suspects in the investigation which has been centred on the border town of Dundalk.
Responsible
However, he said investigating detectives believe none of them dirtied their hands with the bomb, instead they drafted in less prominent members of their illegal organisation to drive the car into the town.
The garda said: "It is our belief that these are the people responsible for the attack.
"We have put them under round-the-clock watch so well know exactly where they are when we are ready to lift them.
"They are aware that they are being watched and most of them are keeping a low profile.
"But we are confident none of them will be absconding.
"They can't go north because of the heavy security on the borders.
"And it would be practically impossible for any of them to try and leave the country when they are being trailed.
"We have them trapped and we intend to get them."
The 10 suspect bombers are all former members of the provisional IRA and gardai say they are now prominent henchmen of the breakaway Real IRA.
But it has become a waiting game for gardai who are playing cat and mouse with their prime suspects.
As senior government and justice officials consider changing legislation which would make it easier for the forces of law to cage terrorists, officers can do nothing but wait.
And while they do, they say the clock is ticking like a time bomb for the evil mad men they believe have plotted and earned out the most ruthless crime the nation has ever seen.
As gardai patiently wait for the governmental nod which will allow them to bring in their suspects, the Dundalk 10 can do little but wait as well.
Outcry
"They know the pressure is on them. Despite the fact that they were obviously completely out of their minds to have done what they did. they know the public outcry is so loud that they'll never get away.
"As soon as legislation comes in. which we are hoping for at this stage, we will be able to arrest them on suspicion of being members of an illegal organisation.
"We hope we will be able to charge these people with the bombing."
By NICOLA TALLANT
TEN suspect bombers, including one woman, have been placed under tight 24-hour surveillance in the Republic of Ireland.
Gardai believe the group - all from Dundalk - plotted the Omagh bombing which left 28 dead.
The 10 are all members of the Real IRA - a tear-away terrorist group who security forces say bombed the Co Tyrone town.
The houses of the suspects have been put under round-the-clock watch and undercover detectives have been trailing their targets.
Last night, a senior Garda source revealed how the group are the chief suspects in the investigation which has been centred on the border town of Dundalk.
Responsible
However, he said investigating detectives believe none of them dirtied their hands with the bomb, instead they drafted in less prominent members of their illegal organisation to drive the car into the town.
The garda said: "It is our belief that these are the people responsible for the attack.
"We have put them under round-the-clock watch so well know exactly where they are when we are ready to lift them.
"They are aware that they are being watched and most of them are keeping a low profile.
"But we are confident none of them will be absconding.
"They can't go north because of the heavy security on the borders.
"And it would be practically impossible for any of them to try and leave the country when they are being trailed.
"We have them trapped and we intend to get them."
The 10 suspect bombers are all former members of the provisional IRA and gardai say they are now prominent henchmen of the breakaway Real IRA.
But it has become a waiting game for gardai who are playing cat and mouse with their prime suspects.
As senior government and justice officials consider changing legislation which would make it easier for the forces of law to cage terrorists, officers can do nothing but wait.
And while they do, they say the clock is ticking like a time bomb for the evil mad men they believe have plotted and earned out the most ruthless crime the nation has ever seen.
As gardai patiently wait for the governmental nod which will allow them to bring in their suspects, the Dundalk 10 can do little but wait as well.
Outcry
"They know the pressure is on them. Despite the fact that they were obviously completely out of their minds to have done what they did. they know the public outcry is so loud that they'll never get away.
"As soon as legislation comes in. which we are hoping for at this stage, we will be able to arrest them on suspicion of being members of an illegal organisation.
"We hope we will be able to charge these people with the bombing."
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/044
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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