OMAGH FAMILIES GET US BACKING IN BID TO CLOSE DOWN REAL IRA WEBSITE
Omagh families get US backing in bid to close down Real IRA website
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
THE US Government has promised the families of victims of the Omagh bombing that it will "do what it can" to help shut down a website of a political group with alleged links to the Real IRA.
A number of relatives spent over an hour in talks with the US consul general to Belfast, Michael Gallagher, said they were anxious to have the website of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement closed, especially its noticeboard which he described as particularly offensive.
The website service provider is in Canada, but it has a sister company in the US.
Mr Gallagher said, "We are asking the US government to talk to their Canadian cousins and say this website is contrary to the current climate of putting pressure on terrorists and terrorist supporters. The Consul General said he had already talked to the US embassy in London about the issue and had been asked by London to talk to the families. Mr Pittman said if there was anything they could do they would do it in support of the families.
He added, "There was nothing he could guarantee us, except that our allegations about the site would be seriously looked at - and if it is possible to do something they will do it."
Mr Pittman pledged to discuss the families' concerns over the website with authorities in Washington.
He said, "I greatly admire Mr Gallagher and his group's courage in pursuing justice for the victims of the Omagh bombing. We also take very seriously Mr Gallagher's concerns about this website and will investigate the matter closely."
Meanwhile, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has challenged Michael Gallagher to produce proof with regards to his claim that the organisation is the 'political wing' of the Real IRA.
A spokesperson for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has also invited Mr Gallagher and the Omagh relatives to meet the group "to clarify any misunderstandings" they may have about its political position.
"The 32 County Sovereignty Movement is an independent political organisation with no affiliations to any other organisations. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement have consistently called for a full international independent public inquiry into the events of the 15th of August, 1998 and take this opportunity to do so again, said the spokesperson.
He added, "We would urge Michael Gallagher and all those who claim to support democratic dialogue to use whatever influence they have to ensure those who have received submissions engage with us rather than pay lipservice to the idea of dialogue yet remain silent when invited to do so. Finally, we invite Mr Gallagher and all the Omagh relatives to meet us in order to clarify and misunderstandings he may have regarding our political position, our door is always open and we will engage with anyone, anytime if it can be helpful."
BY NIGEL MCDONAGH
THE US Government has promised the families of victims of the Omagh bombing that it will "do what it can" to help shut down a website of a political group with alleged links to the Real IRA.
A number of relatives spent over an hour in talks with the US consul general to Belfast, Michael Gallagher, said they were anxious to have the website of the 32 County Sovereignty Movement closed, especially its noticeboard which he described as particularly offensive.
The website service provider is in Canada, but it has a sister company in the US.
Mr Gallagher said, "We are asking the US government to talk to their Canadian cousins and say this website is contrary to the current climate of putting pressure on terrorists and terrorist supporters. The Consul General said he had already talked to the US embassy in London about the issue and had been asked by London to talk to the families. Mr Pittman said if there was anything they could do they would do it in support of the families.
He added, "There was nothing he could guarantee us, except that our allegations about the site would be seriously looked at - and if it is possible to do something they will do it."
Mr Pittman pledged to discuss the families' concerns over the website with authorities in Washington.
He said, "I greatly admire Mr Gallagher and his group's courage in pursuing justice for the victims of the Omagh bombing. We also take very seriously Mr Gallagher's concerns about this website and will investigate the matter closely."
Meanwhile, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has challenged Michael Gallagher to produce proof with regards to his claim that the organisation is the 'political wing' of the Real IRA.
A spokesperson for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement has also invited Mr Gallagher and the Omagh relatives to meet the group "to clarify any misunderstandings" they may have about its political position.
"The 32 County Sovereignty Movement is an independent political organisation with no affiliations to any other organisations. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement have consistently called for a full international independent public inquiry into the events of the 15th of August, 1998 and take this opportunity to do so again, said the spokesperson.
He added, "We would urge Michael Gallagher and all those who claim to support democratic dialogue to use whatever influence they have to ensure those who have received submissions engage with us rather than pay lipservice to the idea of dialogue yet remain silent when invited to do so. Finally, we invite Mr Gallagher and all the Omagh relatives to meet us in order to clarify and misunderstandings he may have regarding our political position, our door is always open and we will engage with anyone, anytime if it can be helpful."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/032
Published Date: 15-May-06
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.