LAST AVENUE FOR JUSTICE FOR OMAGH VICTIMS' GROUP
Last avenue for justice for Omagh victims' group
BY MARK McKELVEY
AFTER years of struggling for the truth, the Omagh Victims' Support Group's dream of a full cross-border inquiry into the Omagh bomb, has taken a major step in becoming a reality.
In a monumental move last Thursday, the heads of the Human Rights Commissions from both sides of the border came together to make a united stand, taking the decision to call upon their respective governments to appoint an independent investigator with the powers to examine all possible evidence. This is the first time both commissions have come together to take such a historic stance.
Speaking after the meeting held in the Victim Support Group's offices in Omagh, Dr Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, expressed how it is a necessity to go down this avenue to "get at the truth."
Mrs McWilliams explained the outcome of the meeting, "We have agreed today that we will cal! on the two governments to appoint a person of independent and international standing to undertake an investigation and to have the powers to call for evidence with a view, depending on the evidence to call for a cross-border public enquiry.
"We feel there is a necessity now to look at the circumstances around the Omagh bomb. From the perspective of human rights we feel it is a necessity to get at the truth."
Dr Maurice Manning, the President of the Irish Human Rights Commission, described this decision as 'unprecedented.'
"We have taken a very strong stand on this which has been long-standing issue for us. At this stage we must make it clear we are not saying there should be a cross-border public enquiry, we are saying a person needs to be appointed to investigate and decide if this move is required.
"This is a positive step and the victims' group are extremely satisfied with the outcome of our decision."
With the Victim's Support Group civil action case set to begin in April, their chairman Michael Gallagher confirmed this next move is their last avenue for justice, having done everything feasibly possible.
"If this process is carried out there is nothing more humanly possibly that can be done, and we, as victims' families, are going to have to park it there. Obviously our grief will not change, our hurt and pain will still be there, but we can at least say both governments have opened their books and allowed an independent person to look at all the information," said Mr Gallagher.
"Without a doubt in my opinion, you will not see another person stand trial never mind convicted for Omagh, so I think there are still quite a number of strands of doubt that need to be fully and transparently examined, and " if that process was complete, we could say that everything possible was done and end there."
To allay any sceptical thoughts that this cross-border investigation will be similar to previous unsuccessful enquiries, Mr Gallagher explained how significant this move is.
"We have had seven enquiries here, but each one caused more controversy than before, so we feel if we had this one cross-border public enquiry encompassing both .governments, that we could maybe bring the public side of Omagh to an end," explained Mr Gallagher.
BY MARK McKELVEY
AFTER years of struggling for the truth, the Omagh Victims' Support Group's dream of a full cross-border inquiry into the Omagh bomb, has taken a major step in becoming a reality.
In a monumental move last Thursday, the heads of the Human Rights Commissions from both sides of the border came together to make a united stand, taking the decision to call upon their respective governments to appoint an independent investigator with the powers to examine all possible evidence. This is the first time both commissions have come together to take such a historic stance.
Speaking after the meeting held in the Victim Support Group's offices in Omagh, Dr Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, expressed how it is a necessity to go down this avenue to "get at the truth."
Mrs McWilliams explained the outcome of the meeting, "We have agreed today that we will cal! on the two governments to appoint a person of independent and international standing to undertake an investigation and to have the powers to call for evidence with a view, depending on the evidence to call for a cross-border public enquiry.
"We feel there is a necessity now to look at the circumstances around the Omagh bomb. From the perspective of human rights we feel it is a necessity to get at the truth."
Dr Maurice Manning, the President of the Irish Human Rights Commission, described this decision as 'unprecedented.'
"We have taken a very strong stand on this which has been long-standing issue for us. At this stage we must make it clear we are not saying there should be a cross-border public enquiry, we are saying a person needs to be appointed to investigate and decide if this move is required.
"This is a positive step and the victims' group are extremely satisfied with the outcome of our decision."
With the Victim's Support Group civil action case set to begin in April, their chairman Michael Gallagher confirmed this next move is their last avenue for justice, having done everything feasibly possible.
"If this process is carried out there is nothing more humanly possibly that can be done, and we, as victims' families, are going to have to park it there. Obviously our grief will not change, our hurt and pain will still be there, but we can at least say both governments have opened their books and allowed an independent person to look at all the information," said Mr Gallagher.
"Without a doubt in my opinion, you will not see another person stand trial never mind convicted for Omagh, so I think there are still quite a number of strands of doubt that need to be fully and transparently examined, and " if that process was complete, we could say that everything possible was done and end there."
To allay any sceptical thoughts that this cross-border investigation will be similar to previous unsuccessful enquiries, Mr Gallagher explained how significant this move is.
"We have had seven enquiries here, but each one caused more controversy than before, so we feel if we had this one cross-border public enquiry encompassing both .governments, that we could maybe bring the public side of Omagh to an end," explained Mr Gallagher.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/049
Published Date: 22-Jan-07
Related Images
