OMAGH FURY AT SAND'S VICTIM INSULT
OMAGH FURY AT SANDS 'VICTIM' INSULT
EXCLUSIVE by CLARE COLLINS
DISTRAUGHT Omagh families lashed out last night after an amazing claim that the chairman of Real IRA's political wing was a "victim" of the atrocity. Bernadette Sands-McKevitt made the extraordinary statement about Omagh colleague Francie Mackey on the eve of today's bomb inquest.
The spokeswoman for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement said: "The disgraceful use of a tragedy, such as Omagh, as a whipping stick to serve a particular political agenda can only add to the suffering of all the victims of Omagh.
"Francie Mackey is one of those victims."
Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden in the blast, said: "If Mackey is a victim, what do you call people like us who lost our babies?
"Has he lost his family? I know that there is a hate campaign against him from the people of the town, but he must realise that the people he represents are calling for continued bombing.
"I don't know how Sands-McKevitt can say that Francie Mackey is a victim.
"I'm very angry and I would like him to come and speak to me person to person.
"All this is very draining and the last thing we need is her adding to the pain of not releasing an apology to me and the other real victims."
Mrs Sands-McKevitt, a sister of IRA hunger-striker Bobby Sands, added: "We believe it is only when the whole truth about the Omagh tragedy is uncovered that our position will be vindicated."
The Real carried out the bomb attack in August 1998 which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured up to 500.
Following the devastating blast Mackey, 51, a councillor in Omagh was arrested and questioned by RUC officers before being released without charge. The Omagh bomb inquest opens today at the town's Leisure Complex and it is expected to last up to six weeks.
EXCLUSIVE by CLARE COLLINS
DISTRAUGHT Omagh families lashed out last night after an amazing claim that the chairman of Real IRA's political wing was a "victim" of the atrocity. Bernadette Sands-McKevitt made the extraordinary statement about Omagh colleague Francie Mackey on the eve of today's bomb inquest.
The spokeswoman for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement said: "The disgraceful use of a tragedy, such as Omagh, as a whipping stick to serve a particular political agenda can only add to the suffering of all the victims of Omagh.
"Francie Mackey is one of those victims."
Michael Gallagher, who lost his 21-year-old son Aiden in the blast, said: "If Mackey is a victim, what do you call people like us who lost our babies?
"Has he lost his family? I know that there is a hate campaign against him from the people of the town, but he must realise that the people he represents are calling for continued bombing.
"I don't know how Sands-McKevitt can say that Francie Mackey is a victim.
"I'm very angry and I would like him to come and speak to me person to person.
"All this is very draining and the last thing we need is her adding to the pain of not releasing an apology to me and the other real victims."
Mrs Sands-McKevitt, a sister of IRA hunger-striker Bobby Sands, added: "We believe it is only when the whole truth about the Omagh tragedy is uncovered that our position will be vindicated."
The Real carried out the bomb attack in August 1998 which killed 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, and injured up to 500.
Following the devastating blast Mackey, 51, a councillor in Omagh was arrested and questioned by RUC officers before being released without charge. The Omagh bomb inquest opens today at the town's Leisure Complex and it is expected to last up to six weeks.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/115
Published Date: 06-Sep-00
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