BOMB VICTIM FURIOUS OVER MACKEY'S REMARKS
Bomb victim furious over Mackey's remarks
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
A DECLARATION that dissident republicans will "rise up again" to end British rule in Ireland has provoked a furious response from the husband of an Omagh bomb victim.
The claim was made by Francie Mackey, a former Omagh Sinn Fein councillor and current Chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, a political group affiliated to the Real IRA, when he pledged that a new generation of republicans will "re-emerge as a significant force" during his Easter oration at Arbour Hill Cemetery in Dublin last week.
He said, "The Irish people rose up in the past and will again when republicans re-emerge as a significant force in upholding the sovereignty of the Irish people.
"We acknowledge the legitimacy of other groups and organisations opposing British rule and we see there is more uniting us than what keeps us apart."
However, Kevin Skelton, whose late wife Philomena was amongst the 31 people killed in the 1998 Real IRA atrocity, said Mr Mackey's comments had caused him "great upset and anger."
"Francie Mackey is a man who is associated with a group which murdered 31 innocent people. He couldn't even bring himself to condemn the Omagh bombing and what he said last week was an absolute disgrace," said Mr Skelton.
He added, "Mackey certainly wasn't talking about republicans 'rising up' through peaceful means and I think he should just go back under the stone from which he crawled out."
Mr Skelton said the recent discovery of dissident republican bombs by the PSNI proves that the Real IRA and Continuity IRA are still prepared to "blow people to pieces" and accused Francie Mackey of trying to entice young people into joining the organisations.
"They (the Real IRA) are a small minority of scumbags who represent no-one and are part of the world list of proscribed terrorist organisations," he said.
Mr Skelton added, "I can't believe Mackey was allowed to stand up and say what he did.
"His comments were designed to entice young people into joining terrorist organisations and are an insult to the Omagh bomb victims and everyone who voted for the Good Friday Agreement."
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
A DECLARATION that dissident republicans will "rise up again" to end British rule in Ireland has provoked a furious response from the husband of an Omagh bomb victim.
The claim was made by Francie Mackey, a former Omagh Sinn Fein councillor and current Chairman of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, a political group affiliated to the Real IRA, when he pledged that a new generation of republicans will "re-emerge as a significant force" during his Easter oration at Arbour Hill Cemetery in Dublin last week.
He said, "The Irish people rose up in the past and will again when republicans re-emerge as a significant force in upholding the sovereignty of the Irish people.
"We acknowledge the legitimacy of other groups and organisations opposing British rule and we see there is more uniting us than what keeps us apart."
However, Kevin Skelton, whose late wife Philomena was amongst the 31 people killed in the 1998 Real IRA atrocity, said Mr Mackey's comments had caused him "great upset and anger."
"Francie Mackey is a man who is associated with a group which murdered 31 innocent people. He couldn't even bring himself to condemn the Omagh bombing and what he said last week was an absolute disgrace," said Mr Skelton.
He added, "Mackey certainly wasn't talking about republicans 'rising up' through peaceful means and I think he should just go back under the stone from which he crawled out."
Mr Skelton said the recent discovery of dissident republican bombs by the PSNI proves that the Real IRA and Continuity IRA are still prepared to "blow people to pieces" and accused Francie Mackey of trying to entice young people into joining the organisations.
"They (the Real IRA) are a small minority of scumbags who represent no-one and are part of the world list of proscribed terrorist organisations," he said.
Mr Skelton added, "I can't believe Mackey was allowed to stand up and say what he did.
"His comments were designed to entice young people into joining terrorist organisations and are an insult to the Omagh bomb victims and everyone who voted for the Good Friday Agreement."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/031
Published Date: 24-Apr-06
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