MURDERING SCUM RETURN HEARTBREAK TO OMAGH
Murdering scum' return heartbreak to Omagh
BY MARK McKELVEY
THE reckless disregard for human life shown in the callous murder of Ronan Kerr - on a day when thousands of people took to the streets of Omagh for a joyful event - has drawn parallels to the tragic events of August 15 1998.
On that sunny day 13 years ago Omagh was busy celebrating the summer carnival before darkness struck when a car bomb exploded killing 31 people including two unborn babies..
Similarly on Saturday, the successful half marathon and fun run was a demonstration of the community spirit that exists in the town.
The route actually brought over a 1,000 runners through the Highfield Close area hours before a car bomb killed the 25-year-old Catholic policeman outside his home.
Having lived with the pain caused by dissident republicanism every day since the Omagh bomb when his son Aidan was killed, Michael Gallagher said this murder again puts Omagh in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
He said, "This was very reckless. Ronan could have had members of his own family in the car or children could have been playing in this area. It is a total disregard for human life just like 1998 when dissidents wanted to make a statement and didn't care how much pain or misery they were going to cause to anyone. They have no community support. This is just death for the sake of death.
"This was a day which was supposed to illustrate a lot of the good that takes place in Omagh. Ronan was a young, local man who was serving the community and had something to give.
"These people who carried this out are purely fascist and have nothing to offer our community but only death and destruction.
"I could see it on people's faces in the town on Saturday when news of the bomb started to break - the horror and pain and in some cases anger that this had been visited upon them again."
Mr Gallagher said the Omagh Support and Self Help Group held an event in the Silverbirch Hotel on Thursday night remembering the past and looking to the future, which was attended by Terry Waite.
He continued, "This was a very positive and uplifting event and little did we know that just two days later this heartbreak would be visited on the town again. I have received phone calls from people elsewhere saying how devastating it was to hear Omagh being thrust into the headlines again for all the wrong reasons.
"We know the pain this family are going through and the hard journey they have ahead and I pass on my sincerest and deepest sympathies to them."
Chairman of Families Moving On, Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena was also murdered in the Omagh bomb, condemned the killing and said he would be willing to help anyone who witnessed the murder or has been affected by it.
Mr Skelton also said he has nothing but contempt for the people who carried out this "heinous act."
Mr Skelton said, "The republican movement know who these guys are, it's time the people of Northern Ireland stood up and got rid of these guys once and for all.
"They are achieving nothing, they certainly won't achieve a united Ireland. They are murdering scum."
BY MARK McKELVEY
THE reckless disregard for human life shown in the callous murder of Ronan Kerr - on a day when thousands of people took to the streets of Omagh for a joyful event - has drawn parallels to the tragic events of August 15 1998.
On that sunny day 13 years ago Omagh was busy celebrating the summer carnival before darkness struck when a car bomb exploded killing 31 people including two unborn babies..
Similarly on Saturday, the successful half marathon and fun run was a demonstration of the community spirit that exists in the town.
The route actually brought over a 1,000 runners through the Highfield Close area hours before a car bomb killed the 25-year-old Catholic policeman outside his home.
Having lived with the pain caused by dissident republicanism every day since the Omagh bomb when his son Aidan was killed, Michael Gallagher said this murder again puts Omagh in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
He said, "This was very reckless. Ronan could have had members of his own family in the car or children could have been playing in this area. It is a total disregard for human life just like 1998 when dissidents wanted to make a statement and didn't care how much pain or misery they were going to cause to anyone. They have no community support. This is just death for the sake of death.
"This was a day which was supposed to illustrate a lot of the good that takes place in Omagh. Ronan was a young, local man who was serving the community and had something to give.
"These people who carried this out are purely fascist and have nothing to offer our community but only death and destruction.
"I could see it on people's faces in the town on Saturday when news of the bomb started to break - the horror and pain and in some cases anger that this had been visited upon them again."
Mr Gallagher said the Omagh Support and Self Help Group held an event in the Silverbirch Hotel on Thursday night remembering the past and looking to the future, which was attended by Terry Waite.
He continued, "This was a very positive and uplifting event and little did we know that just two days later this heartbreak would be visited on the town again. I have received phone calls from people elsewhere saying how devastating it was to hear Omagh being thrust into the headlines again for all the wrong reasons.
"We know the pain this family are going through and the hard journey they have ahead and I pass on my sincerest and deepest sympathies to them."
Chairman of Families Moving On, Kevin Skelton, whose wife Philomena was also murdered in the Omagh bomb, condemned the killing and said he would be willing to help anyone who witnessed the murder or has been affected by it.
Mr Skelton also said he has nothing but contempt for the people who carried out this "heinous act."
Mr Skelton said, "The republican movement know who these guys are, it's time the people of Northern Ireland stood up and got rid of these guys once and for all.
"They are achieving nothing, they certainly won't achieve a united Ireland. They are murdering scum."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH/105
Published Date: 04-Apr-11
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