HUSBAND SCEPTICAL OF FRESH APPEAL
HUSBAND SCEPTICAL OF FRESH APPEAL
Republicans urged to break their silence on Omagh atrocity
BY ROMAN McSHERRY
A SERIES of newspaper adverts urging people to come forward with fresh information on the Omagh bomb has been met with scepticism by the husband of one of the victims.
The new appeal will be published in selected newspapers this week in a further attempt by police to gather information about the bomb car. Adverts will be placed in daily and weekly newspapers in the North and the Republic with the objective of asking people in border areas to think again about coming forward with information which would assist the investigation.
The move has been fuelled by the changed outlook towards policing among a substantial part of the republican community, and the inquiry team's determination to seek justice for the bomb victims, Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter confirmed.
He said, "It's eight and a half years since the Omagh bombing but the investigation is continuing. In light of recent changes in attitude from certain groups towards policing, I think it is important to ask everyone to think again about coming forward with information about what happened. I would encourage public representatives to use their influence in the communities which they represent, on both sides of the border, to ask people to come forward."
However, Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann (48) in the 1998 blast which killed 29 people and two unborn children, described the move as, "Grasping at straws."
He said, "The police were to talk to the leaders of Sinn Fein in south Armagh and along the border. It is eight and a half years since the atrocity and they are eight and a half years too late in starting to talk to anyone. If they haven't come forward by now there is not a hope they will come forward as a result of these advertisements. Do the PSNI really think this will work? There is not a mission."
Mr McCombe also said that he is not persuaded by the recent republican endorsement of policing arrangements in the North.
He added, "This appeal is because Sinn Fein have decided to go on the policing board. According to Michelle Gildernew, she win not be advising people to come forward and that is in all matters, not just in relation to what happened in Omagh. She is not prepared to help the police. As far as I am concerned this is a wasted exercise."
Commenting on the appeal, Sinn Fein MLA for West Tyrone, Barry McElduff said, "I think this is the second attempt by Norman Baxter to surface this in the last few weeks.
"We support a truth recovery process for all victims in the conflict. All families are entitled to truth and justice."
PSNI Chief Norman Baxter said the advertising appeal is an attempt to gain information about the car used in the attack.
He said, "We are particularly interested in the movements of the bomb ear in the days leading up to the atrocity. We want to know about the movements of the red/maroon Vauxhall Cavalier between Thursday August 13 and Saturday August 15, 1998, the day of the explosion which killed 29 innocent people."
"Anyone who knows anything about the movements of this car in the Carrickmacross area or the Louth/south Armagh area during this period is asked to contact the Incident Room at Omagh police station, telephone 028 8225 6682. Any information will be treated in confidence."
Republicans urged to break their silence on Omagh atrocity
BY ROMAN McSHERRY
A SERIES of newspaper adverts urging people to come forward with fresh information on the Omagh bomb has been met with scepticism by the husband of one of the victims.
The new appeal will be published in selected newspapers this week in a further attempt by police to gather information about the bomb car. Adverts will be placed in daily and weekly newspapers in the North and the Republic with the objective of asking people in border areas to think again about coming forward with information which would assist the investigation.
The move has been fuelled by the changed outlook towards policing among a substantial part of the republican community, and the inquiry team's determination to seek justice for the bomb victims, Chief Superintendent Norman Baxter confirmed.
He said, "It's eight and a half years since the Omagh bombing but the investigation is continuing. In light of recent changes in attitude from certain groups towards policing, I think it is important to ask everyone to think again about coming forward with information about what happened. I would encourage public representatives to use their influence in the communities which they represent, on both sides of the border, to ask people to come forward."
However, Stanley McCombe, who lost his wife Ann (48) in the 1998 blast which killed 29 people and two unborn children, described the move as, "Grasping at straws."
He said, "The police were to talk to the leaders of Sinn Fein in south Armagh and along the border. It is eight and a half years since the atrocity and they are eight and a half years too late in starting to talk to anyone. If they haven't come forward by now there is not a hope they will come forward as a result of these advertisements. Do the PSNI really think this will work? There is not a mission."
Mr McCombe also said that he is not persuaded by the recent republican endorsement of policing arrangements in the North.
He added, "This appeal is because Sinn Fein have decided to go on the policing board. According to Michelle Gildernew, she win not be advising people to come forward and that is in all matters, not just in relation to what happened in Omagh. She is not prepared to help the police. As far as I am concerned this is a wasted exercise."
Commenting on the appeal, Sinn Fein MLA for West Tyrone, Barry McElduff said, "I think this is the second attempt by Norman Baxter to surface this in the last few weeks.
"We support a truth recovery process for all victims in the conflict. All families are entitled to truth and justice."
PSNI Chief Norman Baxter said the advertising appeal is an attempt to gain information about the car used in the attack.
He said, "We are particularly interested in the movements of the bomb ear in the days leading up to the atrocity. We want to know about the movements of the red/maroon Vauxhall Cavalier between Thursday August 13 and Saturday August 15, 1998, the day of the explosion which killed 29 innocent people."
"Anyone who knows anything about the movements of this car in the Carrickmacross area or the Louth/south Armagh area during this period is asked to contact the Incident Room at Omagh police station, telephone 028 8225 6682. Any information will be treated in confidence."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/030
Published Date: 12-Mar-06
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