CLAUDY FAMILIES DESERVE THE TRUTH
Claudy Families deserve the truth - Gallagher
BY MICHAEL DEVLIN
THE Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG) has lent its support to the families of those killed in the Claudy bombing in 1972.
Speaking to the Tyrone Herald the OSSHG spokesperson and treasurer, Michael Gallagher said he believes that only a public enquiry along the lines of Bloody Sunday, will turn up the answers the families now deserve.
The relatives of those killed in Claudy last week reacted furiously to news that a Catholic priest said to have been complicit in the planning of the attack was not pursued by the RUC at the time, despite evidence linking him to the IRA.
Nine people were killed after three bombs exploded in the small village on July 31 1972. However, no paramilitary grouping has ever claimed responsibility for the attack, nor has anyone been convicted of the same.
"We, the Omagh victims group fully support the Claudy families' call for truth and justice," Mr Gallagher stated. "We are disgusted that once again the real victims of the Northern Ireland troubles have been wronged. Those in charge of our country and the Catholic Church have colluded in order to prevent the truth emerging and in doing so obstructed the course of justice taking place. We wholeheartedly support their call for further action."
Omagh Support and Self Help Group was founded in the aftermath of the Omagh Bomb in August 1998 to act as a source of support and solace for those adversely affected.
"I am at a loss at why it has taken so long for this information to come to the families," Mr Gallagher continued.
"There is all the will in the world where the politicians are concerned but the same people have consistently ruled out public enquiries. Expense is something which is constantly wheeled out but you have to remember, Britain is a very wealthy nation. If the Government co-operated it certainly wouldn't take as long as the Bloody Sunday one. It would be a quicker process and there are other ways of keeping the cost down.
"Only the families themselves can decide if a public enquiry is something they would like to see happen, but I think they should at least be informed about the routes they can take and also, the consequences of taking those routes."
BY MICHAEL DEVLIN
THE Omagh Support and Self Help Group (OSSHG) has lent its support to the families of those killed in the Claudy bombing in 1972.
Speaking to the Tyrone Herald the OSSHG spokesperson and treasurer, Michael Gallagher said he believes that only a public enquiry along the lines of Bloody Sunday, will turn up the answers the families now deserve.
The relatives of those killed in Claudy last week reacted furiously to news that a Catholic priest said to have been complicit in the planning of the attack was not pursued by the RUC at the time, despite evidence linking him to the IRA.
Nine people were killed after three bombs exploded in the small village on July 31 1972. However, no paramilitary grouping has ever claimed responsibility for the attack, nor has anyone been convicted of the same.
"We, the Omagh victims group fully support the Claudy families' call for truth and justice," Mr Gallagher stated. "We are disgusted that once again the real victims of the Northern Ireland troubles have been wronged. Those in charge of our country and the Catholic Church have colluded in order to prevent the truth emerging and in doing so obstructed the course of justice taking place. We wholeheartedly support their call for further action."
Omagh Support and Self Help Group was founded in the aftermath of the Omagh Bomb in August 1998 to act as a source of support and solace for those adversely affected.
"I am at a loss at why it has taken so long for this information to come to the families," Mr Gallagher continued.
"There is all the will in the world where the politicians are concerned but the same people have consistently ruled out public enquiries. Expense is something which is constantly wheeled out but you have to remember, Britain is a very wealthy nation. If the Government co-operated it certainly wouldn't take as long as the Bloody Sunday one. It would be a quicker process and there are other ways of keeping the cost down.
"Only the families themselves can decide if a public enquiry is something they would like to see happen, but I think they should at least be informed about the routes they can take and also, the consequences of taking those routes."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/098
Published Date: 30-Aug-10
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.