TAOISEACH FAILS TO GIVE COMMITMENT ON INQUIRY
Taoiseach fails to give commitment on inquiry
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
McGuinness backs probe into Omagh investigation
THE Taoiseach, Brian Cowan, all but ruled out any prospect of a full public inquiry into the events leading up to and following the bombing of Omagh when he attended the tenth anniversary of the tragedy on Friday.
Mr Cowan said he believed the civil case which the families are currently taking against the five men suspected of being responsible for the blast was the best way to uncover the truth and he did not see the need for a separate inquiry.
Speaking at the Strule Arts Centre after Friday's ceremony had concluded, the Taoiseach said those who bombed Omagh were rejected by the people of Ireland and had no place in Ireland.
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive, said he supported the call for an independent tribunal of inquiry to look at the crime and the investigation into the bombing.
He added that he too was critical of the police investigation. However, Mr McGuinness said those behind the Omagh atrocity were, in essence, trying to attack the Sinn Fein peace strategy which had been endorsed by people North and South in referenda, just months beforehand.
"This was a very clear attempt by whoever was behind the bomb to destroy the peace process and to destroy our peace strategy," said Mr McGuinness. "Ten years on they have failed miserably."
In a message to dissident republicans, Mr McGuinness said those who still think that the way forward is through violence should reflect on the past ten years, and to recognise that they would be far better stopping and abiding by the overwhelming desire of the people of this island for a peaceful way forward.
Asked if he wanted people with information to go to the police, he said, "I have listened to what the people in Omagh have said and to what criticisms have been made. Spokespeople have talked about their lack of faith in the police and the institutions and have demanded the establishment of a tribunal of inquiry into the events of Omagh.
"There was enough that happened around the Omagh bombing to make it incumbent on the government to recognise that there is desire for truth and a desire to get to the bottom of what happened on that day. This was a very clear attempt by those hostile to the peace process."
Mr McGuinness continued, "I have grave concerns about the way that the police handled this (investigation) from beginning to end and that is why I support the calls by some of the families for an independent tribunal. They obviously have lost all faith in the police investigation and we've seen debacle after debacle in terms of the investigation."
Mr McGuinness said armed groups should bow to the democratic wishes expressed in the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement.
"The people have declared for peace. Those groups should also reflect on what happened in this constituency in the aftermath of the atrocity - Sinn Fein overwhelmingly became the largest party. You can only get to that position if people vote for you. The people came out to support our strategy and to ensure that the peace process continued... the only way we are going to deliver the reunification of this country is to do it by peaceful, democratic means."
BY ADRIAN MULLAN
McGuinness backs probe into Omagh investigation
THE Taoiseach, Brian Cowan, all but ruled out any prospect of a full public inquiry into the events leading up to and following the bombing of Omagh when he attended the tenth anniversary of the tragedy on Friday.
Mr Cowan said he believed the civil case which the families are currently taking against the five men suspected of being responsible for the blast was the best way to uncover the truth and he did not see the need for a separate inquiry.
Speaking at the Strule Arts Centre after Friday's ceremony had concluded, the Taoiseach said those who bombed Omagh were rejected by the people of Ireland and had no place in Ireland.
Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness, Deputy First Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive, said he supported the call for an independent tribunal of inquiry to look at the crime and the investigation into the bombing.
He added that he too was critical of the police investigation. However, Mr McGuinness said those behind the Omagh atrocity were, in essence, trying to attack the Sinn Fein peace strategy which had been endorsed by people North and South in referenda, just months beforehand.
"This was a very clear attempt by whoever was behind the bomb to destroy the peace process and to destroy our peace strategy," said Mr McGuinness. "Ten years on they have failed miserably."
In a message to dissident republicans, Mr McGuinness said those who still think that the way forward is through violence should reflect on the past ten years, and to recognise that they would be far better stopping and abiding by the overwhelming desire of the people of this island for a peaceful way forward.
Asked if he wanted people with information to go to the police, he said, "I have listened to what the people in Omagh have said and to what criticisms have been made. Spokespeople have talked about their lack of faith in the police and the institutions and have demanded the establishment of a tribunal of inquiry into the events of Omagh.
"There was enough that happened around the Omagh bombing to make it incumbent on the government to recognise that there is desire for truth and a desire to get to the bottom of what happened on that day. This was a very clear attempt by those hostile to the peace process."
Mr McGuinness continued, "I have grave concerns about the way that the police handled this (investigation) from beginning to end and that is why I support the calls by some of the families for an independent tribunal. They obviously have lost all faith in the police investigation and we've seen debacle after debacle in terms of the investigation."
Mr McGuinness said armed groups should bow to the democratic wishes expressed in the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement.
"The people have declared for peace. Those groups should also reflect on what happened in this constituency in the aftermath of the atrocity - Sinn Fein overwhelmingly became the largest party. You can only get to that position if people vote for you. The people came out to support our strategy and to ensure that the peace process continued... the only way we are going to deliver the reunification of this country is to do it by peaceful, democratic means."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE HERALD
Ref: TYH10An/08
Published Date: 18-Aug-08
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