THIS WOMAN HAS HER HEAD BURIED IN THE SANDS
This women has her head buried in the Sands
By NEIL LESLIE
I don't think it is time for me to call on RIRA to disband
RENEGADE republican leader Bernadette Sands condemned the Omagh bombing last night - but refused to call on the Real IRA to disband.
The 40-year-old mother of three was speaking after re-opening her shop in Dundalk yesterday.
She said the loss of 28 lives In the Omagh outrage could not be justified or condoned by anybody.
"How could anyone condone it?" she asked. "We, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, are on record as condemning it.
"People are not picking it up, we have used the word condemn and we issued a statement today to clarify that. It is condemned and we will not condone it," she said.
The sister of hunger striker Bobby Sands also called on republicans to pursue Irish unity by peaceful means.
Insisted
Speaking for the first time since the Omagh massacre, the head of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, which has been linked to the RIRA, insisted she and her partner Mickey McKevitt had nothing to do with the outrage.
"I have not fled my home because I've nothing to hide." she said. "I have nothing to flee for and I am not prepared to run away for something that I did not do.
"I intend to stay here. I have no reason to go anywhere away from this. I will do whatever I have to to clear my name.
"My children have left but I am not aware of any threats against my partner.
"I don't know why we are being named, I am at a loss as to why it is Francie Mackey, myself and my partner and the Committee in general have been singled out.
"I had just come in shortly after the bombing and saw it on TV. My reaction was shock.
"The overall thing is a human tragedy for innocent women and children. These were ordinary people going about their business."
The republican leader claimed that her organisation was trying to overthrow the Stormont agreement because it would not bring peace to Ireland.
She added that the Committee was using peaceful channels at United Nations level to achieve its aim.
"We have pursued peaceful channels by going to the UN and taking this to an international arena which was never done before," she said.
"I want to see an end completely to violence. I want to see the problem addressed and resolved and not passed on to another generation. We want to see this ended. It has gone on too long.
"I would prefer to see this sorted out by peaceful means. It is the only way forward and as a Committee that is what we are trying to do.
"What I would ask people is to let us pursue this through the channel we are engaged in. That is the way forward.
"I do not think it is for me to call on the RIRA to disband,"she said.
"I am convinced that people should. I mean all people, should help push with this at an international level through peaceful means."
By NEIL LESLIE
I don't think it is time for me to call on RIRA to disband
RENEGADE republican leader Bernadette Sands condemned the Omagh bombing last night - but refused to call on the Real IRA to disband.
The 40-year-old mother of three was speaking after re-opening her shop in Dundalk yesterday.
She said the loss of 28 lives In the Omagh outrage could not be justified or condoned by anybody.
"How could anyone condone it?" she asked. "We, the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, are on record as condemning it.
"People are not picking it up, we have used the word condemn and we issued a statement today to clarify that. It is condemned and we will not condone it," she said.
The sister of hunger striker Bobby Sands also called on republicans to pursue Irish unity by peaceful means.
Insisted
Speaking for the first time since the Omagh massacre, the head of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, which has been linked to the RIRA, insisted she and her partner Mickey McKevitt had nothing to do with the outrage.
"I have not fled my home because I've nothing to hide." she said. "I have nothing to flee for and I am not prepared to run away for something that I did not do.
"I intend to stay here. I have no reason to go anywhere away from this. I will do whatever I have to to clear my name.
"My children have left but I am not aware of any threats against my partner.
"I don't know why we are being named, I am at a loss as to why it is Francie Mackey, myself and my partner and the Committee in general have been singled out.
"I had just come in shortly after the bombing and saw it on TV. My reaction was shock.
"The overall thing is a human tragedy for innocent women and children. These were ordinary people going about their business."
The republican leader claimed that her organisation was trying to overthrow the Stormont agreement because it would not bring peace to Ireland.
She added that the Committee was using peaceful channels at United Nations level to achieve its aim.
"We have pursued peaceful channels by going to the UN and taking this to an international arena which was never done before," she said.
"I want to see an end completely to violence. I want to see the problem addressed and resolved and not passed on to another generation. We want to see this ended. It has gone on too long.
"I would prefer to see this sorted out by peaceful means. It is the only way forward and as a Committee that is what we are trying to do.
"What I would ask people is to let us pursue this through the channel we are engaged in. That is the way forward.
"I do not think it is for me to call on the RIRA to disband,"she said.
"I am convinced that people should. I mean all people, should help push with this at an international level through peaceful means."
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/067
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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